

Class J_ 

Book_ 


BEQUEST OF 

ALBERT ADSIT CLEMONS 
(Not available for exchange) 

























. 




























































































ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 



Antony and Cleopatra 

















Antony and 
Cleopatra 































T^zsoz, v 




Bequest 

Albert Adsit Clemons 
Aug. 24, 1938 
^Not available for exchange) 



INTRODUCTION. 


All for Love; or, The World Well Lost , was 
Dryden’s title to his version, written in 1678, of 
Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. This title 
implied an absolute reversal of Shakespeare’s 
meaning in the play, a mistake which might have 
appeared reasonable to the apprehension of play¬ 
goers in the time of Charles the Second, but in 
which there would have been no reason to the 
mind in an Elizabethan. Shakespeare’s Antony 
and Cleopatra might more truly have been called 
All for Lust; or , The World III Lost. It was in¬ 
tended to show how, as Plutarch said, “the last 
and extremest mischief of all other (to wit, the love 
of Cleopatra) lighted on Antony, who did waken 
and stir up many vices yet hidden in him, and 
were never seen to any \ and if any spark of good¬ 
ness or hope of rising were left him, Cleopatra 
quenched it straight and made it worse than 
before.” It is the old, old warning to avoid the 
house of the strange woman, “for her house ia» 


INTRODUCTION. 


clineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 
None that go unto her return again, neither take 
they hold of the paths of life.” 

The play was, of course, written after Julius 
Caesar, from which it carries on the sequence of 
historical events. In Julius Ccesar Antony first 
appears as “for the course,” and his love of 
pleasure is indicated a,' - the outset. 

Cassius. Will you go see the order of the course ? 

Brutus. Not I. 

Cassius. I pray you, do. 

Brutus. I am not gamesome : I do lack some part. 

—of that quick spirit that is in Antony.” In 
Julius Caesar the higher use of that quick spirit is 
chiefly dwelt upon, and the soul of the story is 
found in a truth of life that has no relation with 
that shown to be at the heart of the tale of 
Antony’s final ruin, through the overgrowth of 
his desire towards what William Wordsworth has 
described in the young as “ simple pleasure foraging 
for death.” In the two plays there is a continuows 
tale in two parts, each part shaped for enforcement 
of that first principle which its problem of life 
especially illustrates. Each play therefore, as to 
its central thought, is entirely distinct from the 


INTRODUCTION. 


7 


other; and in this respect the sequence in Julius 
CcBsar and Antony and Cleopatra differs from the 
sequence of King Richard II., the two parts of 
King Henry IV., and King Henry V., in which 
plays there is a continuation, not only of the 
setting forth of one series of historical events, but 
also of the setting forth of one poetical conception. 

The writing of Antony and Cleopatra may 
possibly have followed some years after the writing 
of Julius Ccesar. It was entered at Stationers* 
Hall on the 20th May, 1608, to Edward Blunt, 
“ for his copie vnder thandes of Sir George Buck, 
knight, and Master Warden Seton. A booke called 
4 The booke of Pericles prynce of Tyre.* Also to 
his copye by the lyke Aucthoritie. A booke called 
“ Anthony and Cleopatra.’” There were two 
quartos of Pericles in 1609, but of Antony and 
Cleopatra no quarto is known. It seems to have 
been first printed in the folio of 1623. 

This play has a certain relation in its motive to 
the trilogy on Henry TV. and Henry V. In the 
trilogy we see a generous nature tempted by the 
pleasures of the world, through the same quick 
spirit that was in Antony—“ most subject is the 
fattest soil to weeds ”—but Prince Harry was not 
hopelessly entangled in the net. He rose again 


s 


INTRODUCTION. 


and again at the call of duty, finally cast off Fal- 
staff, the embodiment of pleasures of the flesh, and 
went to the battle of life—as King Henry V. to the 
Battle of Agincourt—“God before.” In Antony 
Shakespeare takes pains also to represent a nature 
large and liberal, a man capable of generous 
thought and high achievement, a ripe soldier, linked 
with the young Octavius, whose narrower way of 
thought banked in—like Hotspur’s—yields him no 
temptation to turn aside. But Antony is past 
fifty. Shakespeare has followed Plutarch very 
closely in construction of his play, and has con¬ 
ceived, according to his author, an Antony aged 
fifty-three or fifty-six, not yet emancipated from 
the fetters of the sense caught in the net of a 
Cleopatra of eight-and-thirty, who neglects no art 
for the preservation of her charms. In this respect 
there is to be observed a strong dramatic contrast 
between the boy and girl love of Borneo and Juliet, 
a passion of the fancy that transforms the real to 
the ideal, and the animal passion of Antony and 
Cleopatra, that quenches every pure aspiration, 
and draws the spirit with the body earth to 
earth. 

But is this a fair way of regarding Shakespeare’s 
Cleopatra ? Is she not such a Cleopatra as might 


INTRODUCTION. 


9 


win an Antony t Of course she is. If Falstaff had 
not been shown to us good-humoured, sociable, and 
witty, but had been painted as some lean-witted 
tub-preacher might describe enticements of the 
flesh, he would have been shown as a man by whom 
Prince Hal would have been repelled, and not at¬ 
tracted. It was of the essence of Shakespeare’s art 
—in every sense—to paint Falstaff as one who could 
surround with pleasant humours the plain fact that 
he was a thief, a coward, and a liar; to make him 
so kindly and amusing that we all are of one 
mind with the Prince in finding him good company. 
It needed a Falstaff to win comradeship with Prince 
Hal. In like manner, no Acrasia less enchanting 
than a Cleopatra could have dragged down an 
Antony. 

In the first lines of the play spoken by Philo in 
the house of Cleopatra Shakespeare distinctly 
marks its theme, and associates comment on “ the 
dotage of our general,” who is described as a 
“ strumpePs fool,” when he first enters with Cleo¬ 
patra by his side; Cleopatra, whose first words to 
him mock at his wife. When he hears of his 
wife’s death, and of the troubles that call on him 
for action, Antony’s spirit is roused to a struggle 
to possess himself— 


10 


INTRODUCTION. 


“ These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, 

Or lose myself in dotage.” 

And again, 

“ I must from this enchanting queen break off ; 

Ten thousand harms more than the ills I know 
My idleness doth hatch.” 

When Enobarbus speaks of Cleopatra as a busi¬ 
ness to set against the business in the state, 
Antony says, “No more light answers;” and when 
the roused sense of duty is met by the wishes of 
Cleopatra, it only half yields and leaves her with a 
woman’s admiration of a man who can be resolute. 
He leaves for Rome, and he leaves Cleopatra 
bound, in their own way, to him, as he to her. 
“ Did I, Charmian, ever love Caesar so 1 ” 

In the Second Act Antony’s more generous 
nature shows itself in the dialogue with Caesar, 
and he accepts marriage with Caesar’s sister in 
good faith; but the picture of Cleopatra when she 
first charmed Antony upon the river of Cydnus, 
as shown by Enobarbus, is set in the middle of 
the story of his marriage to Octavia, and we are 
shown the light passion of Cleopatra when she 
hears that Antony is married to Octavia. In the 
third scene of the Third Act there is skilful 
suggestion of love built on the clay in Cleopatra’s 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 


questioning of the messenger, for it looks only to 
the bodily features of Octavia, her stature, voice, 
face, forehead, and the colour of her hair, and 
draws much consolation from fleshly comparisons. 
In the same Act, in the decisive sea-fight, Antony 
is drawn from victory to follow Cleopatra, who 
had fled 

“ She once being looted, 

The noble rain of her magic, Antony, 

Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doting mallard, 
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her. 

I never saw an action of such shame : 

Experience, manhood, honour, ne’er before 
Did violate so itself/* 

In the later scenep, Antony is still shown as a 
noble ruin. His dealing with Enobarbus, when 
deserted even by that once honest friend, is one 
clear indication of the generosity of Antony’s large 
nature. He beats strong wings and lifts his head 
as if to soar, caught as an eagle in the toils. The 
strength of his desire towards Cleopatra is the 
weakness of Antony; the strength of her desire 
towards Antony is the whole strength of Cleopatra. 
Beyond that her care in life is artifice of her pro¬ 
fession as a beauty, who, at the age of thirty-eight, 
cannot afford to trust too simply to Nature. She 


12 


INTRODUCTION. 


has, in her own strength, pathetic traces at the 
last of that which might have been the glory of 
her womanhood, had not her thoughts been low. 


iL M. 


Antony and Cleopatra. 


DRAMATIS PERSONAS. 


Mark Antont, 
Octavius CLesar, 
M. ASmil. Lepidus, 
Sextus Pompeius. 
Domitius Eno- 

BARBUS, 

Ventidius, 

Eros, 

SCARUS, 

Deecetas, 
Demetrius, 

Philo, 

Mecasnas, 
Aorippa, 
Dolabella, 
Proculeius, 
Thtreus, 

Gallus, 

Menas, 
Menkcrates, 
Vaerius, 


I Trium - 


f 


vtrs. 


Friends of 
Antony. 


Friends of 
Ccesar. 


J 


Friends of 
Pompey. 


Taurus, Lieutenant-General 
to Ccesar. 

Canidius, Lieutenant-General 
to Antony. 

Silius, an Officer under 
Ventidius. 

Euphronius, an Ambassador 
from Antony to Ccesar. 

Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, 
and Diomedes, Attendant* 
on Cleopatra. 

A Soothsayer. A Clown. 

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt . 

Octavia, Sister to Ccesar, and 
Wife to Antony. 

Charmian and Iras, Atten¬ 
dants on Cleopatra. 

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, 
and other Attendants. 


SCENE —In several Parts of the Roman Empire. 


ACT I. 

Scene L — Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's 
Palace. 

Enter Demetrius and Philo. 

Phi. Nay, but this dotage of our general’s 
O’erflows the measure : those his goodly eyes, 

That o’er the files and musters of the war 






14 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act L 


Have glowed like plated Mars’, now bend, now turn 
The office and devotion of their view 
Upon a tawny front: his captain’s heart, 

Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst 
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, 

And is become the bellows and the fan 

To cool a gipsy’s lust. Look where they coma 10 

Flourish. Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with 
their Train ; Eunuchs fanning her . 

Take but good note, and you shall see in him 
The triple pillar of the world transformed 
Into a strumpet’s fool: behold and see. 

Cleo. If it be love indeed, tell me how much. 
Ant. There’s beggary in the love that can ba 
reckoned. 

Cleo. I ’ll set a bourn how far to be beloved. 

Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, 
new earth. 

Enter an Attendant. 

Att. News, my good lord, from Roma 

Ant. Grates me :—the suua, 

Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony : 

Fulvia, perchance, is angry; or, who knows 20 
If the Kearce-bearded Caesar have not sent 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


15 


His powerful mandate to you, ‘ Do this, or this; 
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; 
Perform’t, or else we damn thee.’ 

A nt. How, my love ! 

Cleo. Perchance,—nay, and most like,— 

You must not stay here longer, your dismission 
Is come from Csesar; therefore hear it, Antony.— 
Where’s Fulvia’s process? Caesar’s, I would say ? 
both ?— 

Call in the messengers.—As I am Egypt’s queen, 
Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine 30 
Is Caesar’s homager; else so thy cheek pays shame 
When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. — The mes¬ 
sengers ! 

Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch 
Of the ranged empire fall ! Here is my space. 
Ilingdoms are clay : our dungy earth alike 
Feeds beast as man : the nobleness of life 
Is, to do thus; when such a mutual pair 

[Embracing. 

And such a twain can do *t, in which I bind, 

On pain of punishment, the world to weet 
We stand up peerless. 

Cleo. Excellent falsehood! 40 

Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her ?— 

I ’ll seem the fool I am not; Antony 


16 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


[Act L 


Will be himself. 

Ant. But stirred by Cleopatra.— 

Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, 

Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh: 
There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch 
Without some pleasure now :—what sport to-night ? 
Cleo. Hear the ambassadors. 

Ant. Fie, wrangling queen ! 

Whom everything becomes,—to chide, to laugh, 

To weep; whose every passion fully strives 50 
To make itself, in thee, fair and admired. 

No messenger; but thine, and all alone, 

To-night we ’ll wander through the streets, and note 
The qualities of people. Come, my queen ; 

Last night you did desire it.—Speak not to us. 

[Exeunt Antony and Cleopatra, with 
their Train, 

Dem. Is Csesar with Antonius prized so slight? 
Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, 

He comes too short of that great property 
Which still should go with Antony. 

Dem. I am full sorry. 

That he approves the common liar, who 60 

Thus speaks of him at Borne; but I will hope 
Of better deeds to-morrow. Best you happy ! 

[Exeunt 


Scene 2.) 


JlNTONY and cleopatea. 


17 


Scene II.—Alexandria. Another Room in Cleo¬ 
patra’s Palace. 

Enter Ciiarmian, Iras, Alexas, and a Soothsayer. 

Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any¬ 
thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where ’s 
the soothsayer that you praised so to the queen 1 
O, that I knew this husband, which, you say, must 
charge his horns with garlands ! 

Alex. Soothsayer 1 
Sooth. Your will] 

Char . Is this the man 1 —Is’t you, sir, that know 
things 1 

Sooth. In nature’s infinite book of secrecy 
A little I can read. 

Alex. Show him your hand. 10 

Enter Enobarbus. 

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough 
Cleopatra’s health to drink. 

• Char. Good sir, give me good fortune. 

Sooth. I make not, but foresee. 

Chaf. Pray then, foresee me one. 

Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you am 
Char . He means in flesh. 


18 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


{Act 1. 


Iras. No, you shall paint when you aie old 

Char. Wrinkles forbid ! 

Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive. 20 

Char. Hush ! 

Sooth. You shall be more beloving, than beloved 

Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking. 

Alex. Nay, hear him. 

Char. Good now, some excellent fortune ! Let 
me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and 
widow them all: let me have a child at fifty, to 
whom Herod of Jewry may do homage : find me 
to marry me with Octavius Ctesar, and companion 
me with my mistress. 30 

Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you 
serve. 

Char. O excellent! I love long life better than 
figs. 

Sooth.* You have seen and proved a fairer for¬ 
mer fortune 

Than that which is to approach. 

Char. Then, belike, my children shall have no 
names :—pr’y thee, how many boys and wenchea 
must I have 1 

Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, 

And fertile every wish, a million. 

Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. 


40 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


19 


Alex. You think none but your sheets are privy 
to your wishes. 

Char. Nay, come, tell Iras hers. 

Alex. We ’ll know all our fortunes. 

Eno. Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night, 
shall be—drunk to bed. 

Iras. There’s a palm presages chastity, if no° 
thing else. 

Char. Even as the o’erflowing Nilus presageth 
famine. 51 

Iras. Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot sooth¬ 
say. 

Char. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful 
prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear.— 
Pr’ythee, tell her but a workv-day fortune. 

Sooth. Your fortunes are alike. 

Iras. But how ? but how ? give me particulars. 

Sooth. I have said. 

Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better than 
she ? 61 

Char. Well, if you were but an inch of for¬ 
tune better than I, where would you choose it if 

Iras. Not in my husband’s nose. 

Cliwr. Our worser thoughts heavens mend! 
Alexas,—come, his fortune, his fortune !—O, let 
him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I 


20 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act i. 


beseech thee; and let her die too, and give him a 
worse; and let worse follow worse, till the worst 
of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a 
cuckold ! Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though 
thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, 
I beseech thee ! 73 

Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of 
the people; for, as it is a heart-breaking to see a 
handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow 
to behold a foul knave nncuckolded : therefore, 
dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accord¬ 
ingly ! 

Char. Amen. 80 

Alex. Lo, now, if it lay in their hands to make 
me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores 
but they’d do’t. 

Eno. Hush ! here comes Antony. 

Char. Not he ; the queen. 

Enter Cleopatra. 

Cleo. Saw you my lord ? 

Eno. No, lady. 

Cleo. Was he not here ? 

Char. No, madam. 

Cleo. He was disposed to mirth; but, on th® 
sudden, 


Soane 2.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


21 


A Roman thought hath struck him.—Enobarbus,_ 

Eno. Madam 1 Cj - 

Cleo. Seek him, and bring him hither.—Where 'a 
Alexas ? 

Alex. Here, at your service.—My lord ap- 


Cleo. We will not look upon him : go with us. 

[Exeunt Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Alexas, 
Iras, Charmian, Soothsayer, and Attendants. 

Enter Antony, with a Messenger and Attendants . 
Mess. Fulvia thy wife first came into the field 
Ant. Against my brother Lucius 1 
Mess. Ay: 

But soon that war had end, and the time’s state 
Made friends of them, jointing their force ’gainst 
Caesar; 

Whose better issue in the war, from Italy, 1Q0 
Upon the first encounter, drave them. 

Ant. Well, what worsts 

Mess. The nature of bad news infects the teller. 
Aid. When it concerns the fool, or coward— 
On: 

Things, that are past, are done with me.—Tis 
thus: 

Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death. 


22 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


[Act l. 


I Lear Lim as he flattered. 

Mess. Labienus—» 

This is stiff news—hath with his Parthian force 
Extended Asia ; from Euphrates 
His conquering banner shook from Syria 
To Lydia and to Ionia : whilst— 110 

Ant. Antony, thou wouldst say,— 

Mess. O, my lord ! 

Ant, Speak to me home, mince not the general 
tongue: 

Name Cleopatra as she is called in Rome; 

Rail thou in Fulvia’s phrase; and taunt my faults 
With such full license as both truth and malice 
Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth 
weeds 

When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told 
us 

Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile. 119 
Mess. At your noble pleasure. [Exit. 

A nt. From Sicyon, ho, the news ! Speak there ! 

1 Att. The man from Sicyon,—is there such an 

one 1 

2 Att. He stays upon your will. 

Ant. Let him appear 

These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, 

Or lose myself in dotage. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, 


23 


Enter another Messenger\ 

What are you ? 

2 Mess. Fulvia thy wife is dead. 


Ant. 


Where died she ? 


2 Mess. In Sicyon : 

Her length of sickness, with^what else more serious 
Importeth thee to know, this bears. 


[Giving a letter. 
Forbear me.— 


Ant. 



There’s a great spirit gone ! Thus did I desire it: 
What our contempts do often hurl from us, 131 
We wish it ours again; the present pleasure, 

By revolution lowering, does become 

The opposite of itself: she’s good, being gone; 

The hand could pluck her back, that shoved her 


on. 


I must from this enchanting queen break off: 
Ten thousand harms more than the ills I know. 
My idleness doth hatch.—Ho, Enobarbus 1 


Re-enter Enobarbu& 


Eno. What’s your pleasure, sir 1 
Ant. I must with haste from hence. 


140 


Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women : we sea 


24 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act L 


how mortal an unkindness is to them ; if they 
suffer our departure, death’s the word. 

Ant. I must be gone. 

Eno. Under a compelling occasion, let women 
die: it were pity to cast them away for nothing; 
though, between them and a great cause, they 
should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching 
but the least noise of this, dies instantly: I have 
seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment: 
I do think, there is mettle in death which commits 
some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity 
in dying. 153 

Ant. She is cunning past man’s thought. 

Eno. Alack, sir, no; her passions are made of 
nothing but the finest part of pure love: we can¬ 
not call her winds and waters sighs and tears ; they 
are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can 
report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, ska 
makes a shower of rain as well as Jove. 160 

Ant. ’Would I had never seen her ! 

Eno. 0, sir, you had then left unseen a wonder¬ 
ful piece of work ; which not to have been blessed 
withal would have discredited your travel 
Ant. Fulvia is dead. 

Eno. Sir 1 

Ant. Fulvia is dead. 


Scene 2.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


25 


Eno. Fulvia ! 

Ant. Dead. 169 

Eno. Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. 
When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of 
a man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the 
earth : comforting therein, that when old robes are 
worn out, there are members to make new. If 
there were no more women but Fulvia, then had 
you indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented: 
this grief is crowned with consolation; your old 
smock brings forth a new petticoat;—and, indeed, 
the tears live in an onion that should water this 
sorrow. -*180 

Ant. The business she hath broached in the state 
Cannot endure my absence. 

Eno. And the business you have broached here 
cannot be without you ; especially that of Cleo¬ 
patra’s, which wholly depends on your abode. 

Ant. No more light answers. Let our officers 
Have notice what we purpose. I shall break 
The cause of our expedience to the queen, 

And get her leave to part. For not alone 
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, 

Do strongly speak to us ; but the letters too 191 
Of many our contriving friends in Rome 
Petition us at home. Sextus Pompeius 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


I Act L 


Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands 
The empire of the sea: our slippery people— 
Whose love is never linked to the deserver 
Till his deserts are past—begin to throw 
Pompey the Great and all his dignities 
Upon his son, who, high in name and power, 
Higher than both in blood and life, stands up JOG 
For the main soldier ; whose quality, going on, 
The sides o’ the world may danger. Much is 
breeding, 

Which, like the courser’s hair, hath yet but life, 
And not a serpent’s poison. Say, our pleasure, 

To such whose place is under us, requires 
Our quick remove from hence. 

Eno. I shall do it. 

\Exewni. 


Scene IIL—Alexandria. Another Room in 
Cleopatra’s Palace. 

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. 
Cleo. Where is he ? 

Char. I did not see him since. 

Cleo. See where he is, who’s with him, what h© 
does:— 



5o®ne 3. ]| 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, 


27 


I did not send you :—If you find him sad, 

Say, I am dancing; if in mirth, report 
That I am sudden sick : quick, and return. 

[Exit Alexas. 

Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love hirr 
dearly, 

You do not hold the method to enforce 
The like from him. 

Cleo. What should I do, I do not? 

Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in 
nothing. 

Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool the way to lose 
him. 

Char. Tempt him not so too far; I wish, for¬ 
bear : 

In time we hate that which we often fear. 

But here comes Antony. * 

Cleo. I ’m sick and sullen. 

Enter Antony. 

Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my pur¬ 
pose. 

Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall 
fall: 

It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature 
Will not sustain it. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. ] 


[Act I 


£8 


Ant. Now, my dearest queen,— 

Cleo. Pray you, stand further from me. 

Ant. What 5 s the matter I 

Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there *s some 
good news. 

What says the married woman ?—You may go: 20 
Would she had never given you leave to come ! 

Let her not say, ’t is I that keep you here,— 

I have no power upon you ; hers you are. 

Ant. The gods best know,— 

Cleo. O, never was there queen 

So mightily betrayed ! yet at the first 
I saw the treasons planted. 

Ant. Cleopatra,— 

Cleo. Why should I think you can be mine and 
, true, 

Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, 
Who have been false to Fulvia ? Riotous madness, 
To be entangled with those mouth-made vows 30 
Which break themselves in swearing ! 

Ant. Most sweet queen,— 

Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your 
going, 

But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying, 
Then was the time for words : no going then;— 
Eternity was in our lips and eyes, 


flcene a] 


ANTONY AND OLEOPATRA. 


29 


Bliss in our brows* bent; none our parts so poor, 
But was a race of heaven: they are so still, 

Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, 

Art turned the greatest liar. 

Ant . How now, lady ! 

Cleo. I would I had thy inches; thou shouldsi 
know 40 

There were a heart in Egypt. 

Ant. Hear me, queen: 

The strong necessity of time commands 
Our services awhile; but my full heart 
Remains in use with you. Our Italy 
Shines o’er with civil swords : Sextus Pompeius 
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome: 
Equality of two domestic powers 
Breed scrupulous faction : the hated, grown to 
strength, 

Are newly grown to love: the condemned Pompey, 
Rich in his father’s honour, creeps apace 50 

Into the hearts of such as have not thrived 
Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten; 
And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge 
By any desperate change. My more particular, 
An d that which most with you should safe my 
going, 

Is Fulvia’s death- 


30 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA. 


tAotl 


Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me 
freedom, 

It does from childishness:—can Fulvia die? 

Ant She’s dead, my queen. 

Look here, and, at thy sovereign leisure, read 60 
The garboils she awaked ; at the last, best, 

See, when and where she died. 

Cleo . 0 most false love, 

Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill 
With sorrowful water ? Now I see, I see, 

In Fulvia’s death, how mine received shall be. 

Ant Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know 
The purposes I bear; which are, or cease, 

As you shall give the advice. By the fire 
That quickens Nilus* slime, I go from hence, 

Thy soldier, servant; making peace or war 70 
As thou affect’st. 

Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come °— 

But let it be :—I am quickly ill, and well, 

So Antony loves. 

Ant My precious queen, forbear 

And give"true evidence to his love, which stands 
An honourable trial. 

Cleo . So Fulvia told me. 

I pr’ythee, turn aside, and weep for her; 

Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears 


Scene S.} 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATEA. 


31 


Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene 
Of excellent dissembling, and let it look 
Like perfect honour. 79 

Ant. You 11 heat my blood : no more, 

Cleo. You can do better yet; but this is meetly. 
Ant. Now, by my sword,— 

Cleo. And target.—Still he mends; 

But this is not the best. Look, pr’ythee, Char- 
mian, 

How this Herculean Roman does become 
The carriage of his chafe. 

Ant. 111 leave you, lady. 

Cleo. Courteous lord, one word. 

Sir, you and I must part,—but that’s not it: 

Sir, you and I have loved,—but thero’s not it; 
That you know well: something it is I would,— 

0, my oblivion is a very Antony, 90 

And I am all forgotten. 

Ant. But that your royalty 

Holds idleness your subject, I should take you 
For idleness itself. 

Cleo. *T is sweating labour 

To bear such idleness so near the heart 
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me; 

Since my becomings kill me, when they do not 
Eye well to you : your honour calls you hence; 


82 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


CActL 


Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly, 

And all the gods go with you! Upon your sword 
Sit laurel victory, and smooth success <100 

Be strewed before your feet! 

Ant. Let us go. Come ; 

Our separation so abides and flies, 

That thou, residing here, go’st yet with me, 

And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. 
Away 1 \Exeurd. 


Scene IV.—Rome. A Room in Cesar’s 
H ouse. 

Enter Octavius Cjesar, Lepidus, and Attendants. 

Coes. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth 
know, 

It is not Caesar’s natural wise to hate 
Our great competitor. From Alexandria 
This is the news:—he fishes, drinks, and wastes 
The lamps of night in revel; is not more manlike 
Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy 
More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or 
Vouchsafed to think he had partners: you shall 
find there 



£©en« 4 ] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


A man, who is the abstract of all faults 
That all men follow. 

Lcp. I must not think there are 

Evils enow to darken all his goodness : 11 

His faults, in him, seem as the spots of heaven. 
More fiery by night’s blackness ; hereditary, 
Rather than purchased; what he cannot change, 
Than what he chooses. 

Cos. You are too indulgent. Let us grant, it is 
not 

Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy; 

To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit 
And keep the turn of tippling with a slave; 

To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet20 
With knaves that smell of sweat: say, this be¬ 
comes him,— 

As his composure must be rare indeed, 

Whom these things cannot blemish,—yet must 
Antony 

Ho way excuse his soils, when we do bear 
So great weight in his lightness. If he filled 
His vacancy with his voluptuousness, 

Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones 
Call on him for’t; but, to confound such time 
That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud 
As his own state and ours,—’t is to be chid 30 
R— 178 


34 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Aot L 


As we rate boys who, being mature in knowledge, 
Pawn their experience to their present pleasure 
And so rebel to judgment. 

Enter a Messenger. 

Lep. Here’s more news. 

Mess. Thy biddings have been done; and every 
hour, 

Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report 
How’t is abroad. Pompey is strong at sea; 

And it appears, he is beloved of those 
That only have feared Caesar : to the port 3 
The discontents repair, and men’s reports 
Give him much wronged. 

Cces. I should have known no less. 

It hath been taught us from the primal state, 41 
That he which is was wished, until he were; 

And the ebbed man, ne’er loved till ne’er worth 
love, 

Comes deared by being lacked. This common 
body, 

Like to a vagabond flag upon the atream, 

Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide, 

To rot itself with motion. 

Mess. Caesar, I bring thee word, 

Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, 


Scene 4.J ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 35 

Make the sea serve them, which they ear and 
wound 

With keels of every kind : many hot inroads 50 
They make in Italy; the borders maritime 
Lack blood to think on’t, and flush youth revolt: 
No vessel can peep forth, but’t is as soon 
Taken as seen; for Pompey’s name strikes more 
Than could his war resisted. 

Cces. Antony, 

Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once 
Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew st 
Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel 
Did famine follow; whom thou fought’st against. 
Though daintily brought up, with patience more 
Than savages could suffer : thou didst drink 61 
The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle 
Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then 
did deign 

The roughest berry on the rudest hedge; 

Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, 
The barks of trees thou browsed’st; on the Alps, 

It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, 

Which some did die to look on; and all this— 

It wounds thine honour, that I speak it now— 
Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek 70 
So much as lanked not. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


fAat lm 


Lep. ’T is pity of him. 

Cces. Let his shames quickly 

Drive him to Rome : ’t is time we twain 
Did show ourselves i’ the field; and, to that end, 
Assemble we immediate council: Pompey 
Thrives in our idleness. 

Lep. To-morrow, Caesar, 

I shall be furnished to inform you rightly 
Both what by sea and land I can be able, 

To front this present time. 

Cces. Till which encounter, 

It is my business too. Farewell. 80 

Lep. Farewell, my lord. What you shall know 
meantime 

Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir, 

To let me be partaker. 

Cces. Doubt not, sir; 

I know it for my bond. [ Exeunt. 


Scene V. —Alexandria. A room in Cleopatra's 
Palace. 

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and 
Mardian. 

Cleo. Charmian,— 

Char. Madam? 



ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


37 


Cleo. Ha, ha !- 
Give me to drink mandragora. 

Char. Why, madam 1 

Cleo. That I might sleep out this great gap ofl 
time, 

My Antony is away. 

Char. You think of him too much. 

Cleo. O, ’t is treason 1 

Char. Madam, I trust, not so. 

Cleo. Thou, eunuch Mardian ! 

Mar. What’s your highness’ pleasure 1 

Cleo. Not now to hear thee sing; I take no 
pleasure 

In aught an eunuch has. ’T is well for thee, 10 
That, being unseminar’d, thy freer thoughts 
May not fly forth of Egypt Hast thou affections ? 
Mar. Yes, gracious madam. 

Cleo. Indeed? 

Mar. Not in deed, madam; for I can do mo- 
thing, 

But what indeed is honest to be done; 

Yet have I fierce affections, and think, 

What Venus did with Mars. 

Cleo. 0 Charmian 1 

Where think’st thou he is now? Stands he, cw? 
sits he ? 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATEA. 


JAot lu 


Or does he walk 1 or is he on his horse 1 20 

0 happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony ! 

Do bravely, horse, for wott’st thou whom thou 
mov’st 1 

The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm 
And burgonet of men.—He’s speaking now, 

Or murmuring, * Where’s my serpent of old 
Nile?’ 

For so he calls me. Now I feed myself 
With most delicious poison.—Think on me, 

That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black, 

And wrinkled deep in time ? Broad-fronted 

Caesar, 

When thou wast here above the ground, T was SO 
A morsel for a monarch ; and great Pompey 
Would stand, and make his eyes grow in my 
brow; 

There would he anchor his aspect, and die 
With looking on his life. 

Enter Alexas. 

Alex. Sovereign of Egypt, hail 1 

Cleo. How much unlike art thou Mark Antony! 
Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath 
With his tinct gilded thee.— 

How goes it with my brave Mark Antony 1 


Scene 5.] 


ANTOSY AL’D CLEOPATRA. 


39 


Alex. Last thing he did, dear queen, 

He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses— 40 

This orient pearl.—His speech sticks in my heart. 
Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence. 

A lex. ‘ Good friend,’ quoth he, 

‘ Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends 
This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot, 

To mend the petty present, I will piece 
Her opulent throne with kingdoms : all the east, 
Say thou, shall call her mistress.’ So he nodded, 
And soberly did mount an arrogant steed, 

Who neighed so high, that what I would have 
spoke 

Was beastly dumbed by him. 

Cleo. What, was he sad, or merry ? 

Alex. Like to the time o’ the year between the 
extremes 51 

Of hot and cold : he was nor sad, nor merry. 

Cleo. O well-divided disposition !—Note him, 
Note him, good Charmian, ’tis the man; but note 
him : 

He was not sad,—for he would shine on those 
That make their looks by his ; he was not 
merry,— 

Which seemed to tell them, his remembrance lay 
In Egypt with his joy ; but between both : 


40 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATEA. 


[Aot L 


O heavenly mingle !—Be’st thou sad, or merry, 

The violence of either thee becomes, 60 

So does it no man else.—Mett’st thou my posts ? 

Alex. Ay, madam, twenty several messengers. 
Why do you send so thick ? 

Cleo. Who’s born that day 

When I forget to send to Antony 
Shall die a beggar.—Ink and paper, Charmian.—■ 
Welcome, my good Alexas.—Did I, Charmian, 
Ever love Caesar so 1 

Char. O. that brave Caesar ! 

Cleo. Be choked with such another emphasis I 
Say, the brave Antony. 

Char. The valiant Caesar ! 

Cleo. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, 70 
If thou with Caesar paragon again 
My man of men. 

Char. By your most gracious pardon* 

I sing but after you. 

Cleo. My salad days, 

When I was green in judgment:—cold in blood, 

To say as I said then !—But come, away; 

Get me ink and paper: 

He shall have every day a several greeting, 

Or I ’ll unpeople Egypt. [ExeunU 


Scene L] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


41 


ACT II. 

Scene I.—Messina. A Room in Pompey s 
House. 

Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas. 

Pom. If the great gods be just, they shall assist 
The deeds of justest men. 

Mene. Know, worthy Pompey, 

That what they do delay, they not deny. 

Pom. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, 
decays 

The thing we sue for. 

Mene. We, ignorant of ourselves, 

Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers 
Deny us for our good; so find we profit 
By losing of our prayers. 

Pom. I shall do well: 

The people love me, and the sea is mine; 

My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope 10 
Says, it will come to the full. Mark Antony 
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make 
No wars without doors: Caesar gets money wher© 
He loses hearts : Lepidus flatters both, 

Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, 


42 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act II. 


Nor either cares for him. 

Men. Caesar and Lepidus 

Are in the field : a mighty strength they carry. 
Pom. Where have you this ? ’t is false. 

Men. From Silvias, sir, 

Pom. He dreams: I know they are in Home 
together, 

Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, 
Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip ! 21 

Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both 1 
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts, 

Keep his brain fuming ; Epicurean cooks 
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite, 

That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour 
Even till a Lethe’d dulness ! 

Enter Yaerius. 

How now, Varriust 
Var. This is most certain that I shall deliver :— 
Mark Antony is every hour in Rome 
Expected; since he went from Egypt, ’t is 3(1 
A space for further travel. 

Pom. I could have given less matter 

A better ear.—Menas, I did not think 
This amorous surfeiter would have donned his 
helm 


Scene 1.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA- 


43 


For such a petty war : his soldiership 
Is twice the other twain. But let us rear 
The higher our opinion, that our stirring 
Can from the lap of Egypt’s widow pluck 
The ne’er lust-wearied Antony. 

Men. I cannot hope, 

Caesar and Antony shall well greet together : 

His wife that’s dead did trespasses to Caesar ; 40 

His brother warred upon him; although, I think, 
Not moved by Antony. 

Pom. I know not, Menas, 

How lesser enmities may give way to greater. 
Were’t not that we stand up against them all, 

’T were pregnant they should square between 
themsel ves, 

For they have entertained cause enough 
To draw their swords : but how the fear of us 
May cement their divisions, and bind up 
The petty difference, we yet not know. 

Be’t as our gods will have’t! It only stands 50 
Our lives upon to use our strongest hands. 

Come, Menas. [ExeurvL 


u 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Actn. 


Scene II.—Rome. A Room in the House of 
Lepidus. 

Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus. 

Lep. Good Enobarbus, ’t is a worthy deed, 

And shall become you well, to entreat your captain 
To soft and gentle speech. 

Eno. I shall entreat him 

To answer like himself : if Caesar move him, 

Let Antony look over Caesar’s head, 

And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, 

Were I the wearer of Antonius’ beard, 

I would not shave’t to-day. 

Lep. ’T is not a tim« 

For private stomaching. 

Eno. Every time 

Serves for the matter that is then born in’t. 10 

Lep. But small to greater matters must give way. 

Eno. Not if the small come first. 

Lep. Your speech is passion: 

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes 
The noble Antony. 

Enter Antony and Yentidius. 

Eno. And yonder, Caesar 


Scene 2.J 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


45 


Enter (Xesar, Helenas, and Agrippa 

Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia: 

Hark ye, Yentidius. 

Cces. I do not know, 

Mecaenas; ask Agrippa. 

Lep. Noble friends, 

That which combined us was most great, and let 
not 

A leaner action rend us. What ’s amiss, 

May it be gently heard ; when we debate 20 

Our trivial difference loud, we do commit 
Murder in healing wounds. Then, noble partners,— 
The rather, for I earnestly beseech,— 

Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, 
Nor curstness grow to the matter. 

Anl. 'T is spoken well. 

Were we before our armies, and to fight, 

I should do thus. 

Goes. Welcome to Rome. 

Ant. Thank you. 

Cces. Sit 30 

Ant. Sit, sir. 

Goes. Nay, then. 

Ant. I learn, you take things ill which are not so; 
Or being, concern you not 


46 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. [Act H» 


Cces. I must be laughed at, 

If, or for nothing or a little, I 
Should say myself offended; and with you 
Chiefly i’ the world ; more laughed at that I should 
Once name you derogately, when to sound your 
name 

It not concerned me. 

Ant. My being in Egypt, Csesar, 

What was’t to you ? 40 

Cces. No more than my residing here at Home 
Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there 
Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt 
Might be my question. 

Ant. How intend you, practised 1 

Gees. You may be pleased to catch at mine 
intent 

By what did here befall me. Your wife and 
brother 

Made wars upon me, and their contestation 
Was theme for you, you were the word of war. 
Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother 
never 

Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it, 50 

And have my learning from some true reports, 
That drew their swords with you. Did he not 
rather 


Scene 2.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


47 


Discredit my authority with yours ; 

And make the wars alike against my stomach, 
Having alike your cause ? Of this my letters 
Before did satisfy you. If you ’ll patch a quarrel, 
As matter whole you ’ve not to make it with, 

It must not be with this. 

Gets. You praise yourself 

By laying defects of judgment to me ; but 
You patched up your excuses. 

Ant. Not so, not so; 60 

I know you could not lack, I am certain on’t, 
Very necessity of this thought, that I, 

Your partner in the cause ’gainst which he fought* 
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars 
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife, 
T would you had her spirit in such another: 

The third o’ the world is yours, which with a 
snaflle 

You may pace easy, but not such a wife. 

Eno. Would we had all such wives, that the 
men might 

Go to wars with the women ! 70 

Ant. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar, 
Made out of her impatience,—which not wanted 
Shrewdness of policy too,—I grieving grant 
Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must 



48 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act EL 


But say, I could not help it 

C(es. I wrote to you 

When rioting in Alexandria; you 
Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts 
Did gibe my missive out of audience. 

Ant. Sir, 

He fell upon me ere admitted : then 

Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want 80 

Of what I was i’ the morning; but, next day, 

I told him of myself; which was as much 
As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow 
Be nothing of our strife ; if we contend. 

Out of our question wipe him. 

Coes. You have broken 

The article of your oath, which you shall never 
Have tongue to charge me with. 

Lep. Soft, Caesar 1 

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak : 

The honour’s sacred which he talks on now, 
Supposing that I lacked it. But on, Caesar ; 90 

The article of my oath,— 

Coes. To lend me arms and aid when I required 
them, 

The which you both denied. 

Ant. Neglected, rather, 

And then, when poisoned hours had bound me up 


Scene!] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


49 


From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may, 
I ’ll play the penitent to you ; but mine honesty 
Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power 
Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia, 

To have me out of Egypt, made wars here ; 

For which myself, the ignorant motive, do 100 
So far ask pardon as befits mine honour 
To stoop in such a case. 

Lep. ’T is nobly spoken. 

Mec. If it might please you to enforce no 
further 

The griefs between ye : to forget them quite 
Were to remember that the present need 
Speaks to atone you. 

Lep . Worthily spoken, Mecaenas. 

Eno. Or, if you borrow one another’s love for 
the instant, you may, when you hear no more 
words of Pompey, return it again : you shall have 
time to wrangle in when you have nothing else 
to do. Ill 

Ant Thou art a soldier only : speak no more. 

Eno , That truth should be silent, I had almost 
forgot. 

Ant Yon wrong this presence ; therefore, speak 
no more. 

Eno. Go to then ; your considerate stone 


50 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IX 


Cces. I do not much dislike the matter, but 
The manner of his speech ; for ’t cannot be 
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions 
So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew 
What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to 
edge 120 

O’ the world I would pursue it. 

Agr. Give me leave, Caesar,— 

Cces. Speak, Agrippa. 

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother’s side, 
Admired Octavia : great Mark Antony 
Is now a widower. 

Cces. Say not so, Agrippa: 

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof 
Were well deserved of rashness. 

Ant. I am not married, Caesar: let me hear 
Agrippa further speak. 

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, 130 

To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts 
With an unslipping knot, take Antony 
Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims 
No worse a husband than the best of men, 

Whose virtue and whose general graces speak 
That which none else can utter. By this marriage, 
AH little jealousies, which now seem great, 

And ail great fears, which now import their dangers, 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


51 


Would then be nothing: truths would be but 
tales, 

Where now half tales be truths : her love to both 
Would each to other, and all loves to both, 141 
Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke ; 

For’t is a studied, not a present thought, 

By duty ruminated. 

Ant. Will Caesar speak 1 

Cces. Not till he hears how Antony is touched 
With what is spoke already. 

Ant. What power is in Agrippa, 

If I would say, ‘ Agrippa, be it so,’ 

To make this good 1 

Cces. The power of Caesar, and 

His power unto Octavia. 

Ant. May I never 

To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, 150 
Dream of impediment!—Let me have thy hand: 
Further this act of grace, and from this hour 
The heart of brothers govern in our loves 
And sway our great designs ! 

Cces. There is my hand. 

A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother 
Did ever love so dearly : let her live 
To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and neve? 
Fly off our loves again 1 


52 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act EL 


Lep. Happily, Amen ! 

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword ’gainst 
Pompey; 

For he hath laid strange courtesies and great 160 
Of late upon me : I must thank him only, 

Lest my remembrance suffer ill report; 

At heel of that, defy him. 

Lep. Time calls upon 'r: 

Of us must Pompey presently be sought, 

Or else he seeks out us. 

Ant. Where lies he 1 

Cces. About the Mount Misenum. 

Ant. What’s his strength 

By land 1 ? 

Cces. Great and increasing; but by sea 
He is an absolute master. 

Ant. So’s the fame. 

Would we had spoke together 1 Haste we for it: 
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we 170 
The business we have talked of. 

Cces. With most gladness^ 

And do invite you to my sister’s view, 

Whither straight I ’ll lead you. 

Ant. Let us, Lepidua? 

Not lack your company. 

Lep. 


Noble Antony, 


Scene 2.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


53 


Not sickness should detain me. 

[Flourish. Exeunt Caesar, Antony, and 

Lepidus. 

Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir. 

Eno. Half the heart of Caesar, worthy 
Mecaenas!— 

My honourable friend, Agrippa I— 

Agr. Good Enobarbus ! 179 

Mec. We have cause to be glad, that matters are 
so well digested. You stayed well by it in Egypt. 

Eno. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of coun¬ 
tenance, and made the night light with drinking. 

Mec. Eight wild-boars roasted whole at a break¬ 
fast, and but twelve persons there; is this true 1 
Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle : we had 
much more monstrous matter of feast, which 
worthily deserved noting. 

Mec. She *s a most triumphant lady, if report be 
square to her. 

Eno. When she first met Mark Antony, she 
pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. 

Agr. There she appeared indeed; or my reporter 
devised well for her. 

Eno. I will tell you. 

The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne, 
Burned on the water : the poop was beaten gold ; 


54 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATEA. 


[Act II 


Purple the sails, and so perfumed that 
The winds were love-sick with them; the oars 
were silver. 

Which to the tune or flutes kept stroke, and made 
The water which they beat to follow faster, 201 
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, 
It beggared all description : she did lie 
In her pavilion—cloth of gold of tissue— 
O’er-picturing that Venus where we see 
The fancy outwork nature : on each side her 
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, 
With divers-coloured fans, whose wind did seem 
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, 
And wffiat they undid did. 

Agr. 0, rare for Antony 1 

Em)., Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, 211 
So many mermaids, tended her i’ th’ eyes, 

And made their bends adornings : at the helm 
A seeming mermaid steers; the silken tackle 
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, 
That yarely frame the office. From the barge 
A strange invisible perfume hits the sense 
Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast 
Her people out upon her; and Antony, 

Enthroned i’ the market-place, did sit alone, 220 
Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, 


Scene 2.J 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


55 


Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, 

And made a gap in nature. 

Agr. Rare Egyptian! 

Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her. 
Invited her to supper : she replied, 

It should be better he became her guest, 

Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony, 
Whom ne’er the word of ‘No’ woman heard 
speak, 

Being barbered ten times o’er, goes to the feast; 
And for his ordinary pays his heart 230 

For what his eyes ate only. 

Agr. Royal wench! 

She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed; 

He ploughed her, and she cropped. 

Eno. I saw her once 

Hop forty paces through the public street; 

And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, 
That she did make defect perfection, 

And, breathless, power breathe forth. 

Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly. 

Eno. Never; he will not : 

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 240 

Her infinite variety. Other women cloy 
The appetites they feed; but she makes hungry 
Where most she satisfies; for vilest things 


56 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IX 


Become themselves in her ; that the holy priests 
Bless her when she is riggish. 

Mec. If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle 
The heart of Antony, Octavia is 
A blessed lottery to him. 

Agr. Let us go.— 

Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest 249 
Whilst you abide here. 

Eno. Humbly, sir, I thank you. 

\ExeunL 


Scene III.—Rome. A Boom in Cesar's House. 

Enter Caesar, Antony, Octavia between them ; 
and Attendants. 

Ant. The world and my great office will some' 
times 

Divide me from your bosom. 

Octa. All which time, 

Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers 
To them for you. 

Ant. Good night, sir.—My Octavia, 

Read not my blemishes in the world’s report: 

I have not kept my square; but that to come 



.ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


57 


Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear 
lady.— 

Ocia. Good night, sir. 

Coes . Good night. [ Exeunt C^esab and Oct a via. 
Enter a Soothsayer. 

Ant. Now, sirrah,—you do wish yourself in 
Egypt ? 10 

Sooth. Would I had never come from thence, 
nor you thither! 

Ant. If you can, your reason 1 
Sooth. I see it in my motion, have it not in my 
tongue : but yet hie you to Egypt again. 

Ant. Say to me, 

Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine? 
Sooth. Caesar’s. 

Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side : 

Thy demon—that’s thy spirit which keeps thee—is 
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, .21 

Where Caesar’s is not; but .near him thy angel 
Becomes a fear, as being o’erpowered : therefore 
Make space enough between you. 

Ant. Speak this no more. 

Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to 
thee. 

If thou dost play with him at any game, 


58 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA. 


|Act II. 


Thou ’rt sure to lose ; and, of that natural luck, 

He beats thee ’gainst the odds : thy lustre thickens, 
When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit 
Is all afraid to govern thee near him, 30 

But, he away, ’t is noble. 

Ant. Get thee gone: 

Say to V'entidius, I would speak with him.— 

[Exit Soothsays 

He shall to Parthia.—Be it art or hap, 

He hath spoken true : the very dice obey him; 
And in our sports my better cunning faints 
Under his chance : if we draw lots, he speeds; 

His cocks do win the battle still of mine, 

When it is all to nought; and his quails ever 
Beat mine, inliooped, at odds. I will to Egypt: 
And though I make this marriage for my peace, 40 
I’ the east my pleasure lies. 


Enter Yentidius. 

0, come, Yentidius, 
You must to Parthia: your commission’s ready * 
Follow me, and receive *t. [Exw**^ 


Seen® 5.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


59 


Scene IY.—Rome. A Street. 

Enter Lepidus, Meoenas, and Agrippa. 

Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, 
hasten 

Your generals after. 

Agr. Sir, Mark Antony 

Will e’en but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow. 

Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress, 
Which will become you both, farewell. 

Mec. We shall, 

As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount 
Before you, Lepidus. 

Lep. Your way is shorter; 

My purposes do draw me much about: 

You ’ll win two days upon me. 

Mec., Agr. Sir, good success l 

Lep. Farewell. [Exeunt 


Scene Y.—Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. 
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas„ 
Cleo. Give me some music,—music, moody food 
Of us that trade in love. 

Attend . The music, ho I 



60 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


(Act IX. 


Enter Mardian. 

Cleo. Let it alone; let’s to billiards: come, 
Charmian. 

Char. My arm is sore ; best play with Mardian. 

Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch played, 
As with a woman.—Come, you’ll play with me, 
sir! 

Mar. As well as I can, madam. 

Cleo. And when good will is showed, though ’i 
come too short, 

The actor may plead pardon. I ’ll none now.— 
Give me mine angle,—we ’ll to the river : there, 10 
My music playing far off, I will betray 
Tawny-finned fishes; my bended hook shall pierc© 
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up, 

I ’ll think them every one an Antony, 

And say, ‘ Ah, ha ! you ’re caught! ’ 

Char. ’T was merry when 

You wagered on your angling ; when your diver 
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he 
With fervency drew up. 

Cleo. That time—0 times!— 

I laughed him out of patience ; and that night 
I laughed him into patience : and next mom, 20 
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed ; 


Scene 5.J 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


61 


Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst 
I wore his sword Philippan. 

Enter a Messenger . 

0, from Italy?— 

Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, 

That long time have been barren. 

Mess. Madam, madam,— 

Cleo. Antony’s dead !—if thou say so, villain, 
Thou kill’st thy mistress : but well and free, 

If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here 
My bluest veins to kiss,—a hand that kings 
Have lipped, and trembled kissing. 30 

Mess. First, madam, he is well. 

Cleo. Why, there's more gold. 

But, sirrah, mark, we use 
To say, the dead are well: bring it to that, 

The gold I give thee will I melt and pour 
Down thy ill-uttering throat. 

Mess. Good madam, hear me. 

Cleo, Well, go to, I will; 

But there’s no goodness in thy face: if Antony 
Be free, and healthful, why so tart a favour 
To trumpet such good tidings 1 if not well, 

Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with 
snakes, 40 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATUA. 


[Act EL 


Not like a formal man. 

Mess. Will’t please you hear me 1 

Gleo. I have a mind to strike thee, ere thou 
speak’st: 

Yet, if thou say, Antony lives, is well, 

Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, 

I ’ll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail 
Rich pearls upon thee. 

Mess. Madam, he’s well. 

Cleo. W ell said. 

Mess. And friends with Caesar. 

Cleo. Thou ’rt an honest man. 

Mess. Caesar and he are greater friends than 
ever. 

Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me. 

Mess. But yet, madam,— 

Cleo. I do not like ‘ but yet,’ it does allay 50 
The good precedence ; fie upon * but yet! * 

‘ But yet ’ is as a goaler to bring forth 
Some monstrous malefactor. Pr’ythee, friend, 
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, 

The good and bad together: he’s friends with 
Caesar; 

In state of health, thou say’st; and, thou say’st, 
free. 

Mess. Free, madam 1 no; I made no such report: 


8<Mne 5J ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 63 

He’s bound unto Octavia. 

Cleo. For what good turn ? 

Mess. For the best turn i’ the bed. 

Cleo. I am pale, Charmian. 

Mess. Madam, he’s married to Octavia. 60 
Cleo. The most infectious pestilence upon thee ! 

[Strikes him down 

Mess. Good madam, patience. 

Cleo. What say you ?— 

[Strikes him again. 

Hence, horrible villain ! or I ’ll spurn thine eyes 
Like bails before me; I ’ll unhair thy head. 

[She hales him up and doum. 
Thou shalt be whipped with wire, and stewed in 
brine, 

Smarting in lingering pickle. 

Mess. Gracious madam, 

I, that do bring the news, made not the match. 
Cleo. Say, ’tis not so, a province I will gi\re 
thee, 

And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou 
hadst 

Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage; 70 

And I will boot thee with what gift beside 
Thy modesty can beg. 


He’s married, madam. 


64 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


rActit 


Cleo. Rogue, thou hast lived too Jong. 

[Draws a knife. 

Mess. Nay, then I ’ll run.— 

What mean you, madam 1 I have made no fault. 

[Exit. 

Char. Good madam, keep yourself within your¬ 
self : 

The man is innocent. 

Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunder¬ 
bolt.— 

Melt Egypt into Nile ! and kindly creatures 
Turn all to serpents !—Call the slave again :— 
Though I am mad, I will not bite him :—Calk 80 
Char. He is afeared to come. 

Cleo. I will not hurt him.— 

[Exit Charmiak, 

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike 
A meaner than myself ; since I myself 
Have given myself the cause.— 

Re-enter Charmian and Messenger. 

Come hither, sir. 

Though it be honest, it is never good 
To bring bad news: give to a gracious message 
An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell 
Themselves when they be felt. 


Scene 5.J ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 65 

I 

Mess. I have done my duty. 

Cleo. Is he married ? 

I cannot hate thee worser.than I do, 90 

If thou again say, Yes. 

Mess. He’s married, madam. 

Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold 
there still 1 

Mess. Should I lie, madam ? 

Cleo. O, I would, thou didst, 

So half my Egypt were submerged, and made 
A cistern for scaled snakes. Go, get thee hence: 
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me 
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married 1 
Mess. I crave your highness’ pardon. 

Cleo. He is married 1 

Mess. Take no offence that I would not offend 
you : 

To punish me for what you make me do, 100 

Seems much unequal. He is married to Octavia. 
Cleo. O, that his fault should make a knave of 
thee, 

That art not what thou ’rt sure of!—Get thee 
hence: 

The merchandise which thou hast brought from 
Home 

Are all too dear for me : lie they upon thy hand. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Actn 


And be undone by 'em ! [Exit Messenger 

Char. ' Good your nighness, patience. 

Cleo. In praising Antony, I have dispraised 
Csesar. 

Char. Many times, madam. 

Cleo. I am paid for't now. 

Lead me from hence; 

I faint:—0 Iras ! Charmian !—'T is no matter.— 
Go to the fellow, good Alexas ; bid him 111 

Report the feature of Octavia, her years, 

Her inclination, let him not leave out 

The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.— 

[Exit Alexas. 

Let him for ever go :—let him not—Charmian, 
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, 

The other way's a Mars.— [To Mardian.] Bid you 
Alexas 

Bring me word, how tall she is.—Pity me, Char¬ 
mian, 

But do not speak to me.—Lead me to my chamber. 

[ExewaL 


Scene 6.J 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


Scene VI.—Near Miseimm. 

Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas, at one side , 
with drum and trumpet; at another , Caesar, 
Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Mec.enas* 
with Soldiers marching. 

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine ; 
And we shall talk before we fight. 

Coes. Most meet 

That first we come to words ; and therefore have we 
Our written purposes before us sent; 

Which if thou hast considered, let us know 
If 't will tie up thy discontented sword, 

And carry back to Sicily much tall youth 
That else must perish here. 

Pom. To you all three, 

The senators alone of this great world, 

Chief factors for the gods,—I do not know 10 
Wherefore my father should revengers want, 
Having a son, and friends; since Julius Caesar, 
Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, 

There saw you labouring for him. What was it, 
That moved pale Cassius to conspire 1 And what 
Made the all-h'moured, honest Roman, Brutes, 


68 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act EL 


With the armed rest, courtiers of beauteous 
freedom, 

To drench the Capitol, but that they would 
Have one man but a man? And that is it 
Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burden 20 
The angered ocean foams; with which I meant 
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome 
Cast on my noble father. 

Cces. Take your time. 

Ant. Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy 
sails; 

We’ll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou 
know’st 

How much we do o’er-count thee. 

Pom. At land, indeed, 

Thou dost o’er-count me of my father’s house: 

But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, 
Remain in’t as thou may’st. 

Lep. Be pleased to tell us,— 

For this is from the present,—how you take 30 
The offers we have sent you. 

Coes. There’s the point. 

Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh 
What it is worth embraced. 

Coes. And what may follow. 

To try a larger fortune. 


Scene 6.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


6$ 


Pom ■„ You have made me offer 

Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must 
Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send 
Measures of wheat to Rome : this ’greed upon 
To part with unhacked edges, and bear back 
Our targes undinted. 

Coes., Ant., Lep. That’s our offer. 

Pom. Know then* 

I came before you here, a man prepared 41 

To take this offer: but Mark Antony 
Put me to some impatience.—Though I lose 
The praise of it by telling, you must know, 

When Caesar and your brother were at blows. 
Your mother came to Sicily, and did find 
Her welcome friendly. 

Ant. I have heard it, Pompey ; 

And am well studied for a liberal thanks 
Which I do owe you. 

Pom. Let me have your hand : 

I did not think, sir, to have met you here. 50 
Ant. The beds i’ the east are soft; and thanka 
to you 

That called me, timelier than my purpose, hither,— 
For I have gained by’t. 

Coes. Since I saw you last, 

There is a change upon you. 


70 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATEA. 


lA/tll. 


Pom. Well, I know n^t 

What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face*; 

But in my bosom shall she never come, 

To make my heart her vassal. 

Lep. Well met heaj. 

Pom. I hope so, Lepidus.—Thus we are agreed. 

I crave, our composition may be written, 

And sealed between us. 

Cces. That’s the next to do. 

Pom. We’ll feast each other ere we pare; and 
let’s 61 

Draw lots who shall begin. 

Ant. That will I, Ptwnpey. 

Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: 

But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cooker j 
Shall have the fame. I have heard, that Juliua 
Caesar 

Grew fat with feasting there. 

Ant. You have he*n>i much. 

Pom. I have fair meanings, sir. 

Ant, And fair words to them, 

Pom . Then, so much have I heard : 

And I have heard, Apollodorus carried—* 69 

Eno. No more of that:—he did so. 

Pom. What, 1 pray youl 

Eno. A certain queen to Ctesar in a mattress. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


71 


Pom. 1 know thee now: how far’st thou, 
soldier ? 

Eno. Well ; 

And well am like to do; for, I perceive, 

Four feasts are toward. 

Pom. Let me shake thy hand; 

I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight, 

When I have envied thy behaviour. 

Eno. Sir, 

I never loved you much; but I have praised you, 
When you have well deserved ten times as much 
As I have said you did. 

Pom. Enjoy thy plainness, 

It nothing ill becomes thee,— 80 

Aboard my galley I invite you all: 

Will you lead, lords ? 

Cces., Ant., Lep. Show us the way, sir. 

Pom. Come. 

[Exeunt Pompey, ( JjEsar, Antony, Lepidus, 
Soldiers , and Attendants. 
Men. [Aside.'] Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er 
have made this treaty.—You, and I have known, sir. 
Eno. At sea, I think. 

Men. We have, sir. 

Eno. You have done well by water. 

Men. And you by land. 


72 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Actn. 


Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me; 
though it cannot be denied what I have done by 
land. 92 

Men. Nor what I have done by water. 

Eno. Yes ; something you can deny for your own 
safety: you have been a great thief by sea. 

Men. And you by land. 

Eno. There I deny my land service. But give 
me your hand, Menas: if our eyes had authority, 
here they might take two thieves kissing. 

Men. All men’s faces are true, whatsoe’er their 
hands are. 101 

Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true 
face. 

Men. No slander ; they steal hearts. 

Eno. We came hither to fight with you. 

Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turned to 
& drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away 
his fortune. 

Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep’t back again. 

Men. You have said, sir. We looked not for 
Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he married to 
Cleopatra? 112 

Eno . Caesar’s sister is called Octavia. 

Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caiua 
Maroellus. 


Scene 6.) 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


73 


Eno. But she is now the wife of Marcus 
Antonius. 

Men. Pray ye, sir^ 

Eno. *T is true. 

Men. Then is Caesar and he fbr ever knit 
together. 121 

Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I 
would not prophesy so. 

Men. I /hink, the policy of that purpose made 
more in the marriage than the love of the 
parties. 

Eno. I think so too: but you shall find the 
band that seems to tie their friendship together 
will be the very strangler of their amity: Octavia 
is of a holy, cold, and still conversation. 130 

Men. Who would not have his wife so ? 

Eno. Not he, that himself is not so; which is 
Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish 
again : then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the 
fire up in Caesar; and, as I said before, that which 
is the strength of their amity, shall prove the 
immediate author of their variance. Antony will 
use his affection where it is: he married but his 
occasion here. 

Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you 
aboard ? I have a health for you. 141 


74 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act I L 


Eno. I shall take it, sir: we have used our 
throats in Egypt. 

Men. Come, let’s away. [Exeunt 


Scene VIL—On board Pompey’s Galley, lying 
near Misenum. 

Music. Enter two or three Servants , with a 
banquet. 

1 Serv. Here they ’ll be, man. Some o’ their 
plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i’ the 
world will blow them down. 

2 Serv. Lepidus is high-coloured. 

1 Serv. They have made him drink alms-drink. 

2 Serv. As they pinch one another by the dis¬ 
position, he cries out, ‘ No more ; ’ reconciles them 
to his entreaty, and himself to the drink. 

1 Serv. But it raises the greater war between 

him and his discretion. 10 

2 Serv. Why, this it is to have a name in great 
men’s fellowship : I had as lief have a reed that 
will do me no service as a partisan I could not 
heave. 

1 Ser*<- To be called into a huge sphere, and not 



Scene 7.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


78 


to be seen to move in’t, are the holes where eyes 
should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. 

A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, 
PoMPEY, AgRIPPA, MeOENAS, EN0BARBU8, 
Menas, with other Captains. 

Ant. Thus do they, sir. They take the flow o’ 
the Nile 

By certain scales i’ the pyramid ; they know, 

By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth 
Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells, 21 
The more it promises : as it ebbs, the seedsman 
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, 

And shortly comes to harvest 

Lep. You have strange serpents there. 

Ant. Ay, Lepidus. 

Lep. Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your 
mud by the operation of your sun: so is your 
crocodile. 

Ant. They are so. 30 

Pom. Sit,—and some wine !— A health to 
Lepidus ! 

Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I ’ll 
ne’er out. 

Eno. Not till you have slept; I fear me, you T1 
be in, tHl then. 


76 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


{Act bL 


Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard, the Ptolemies’ 
pyramises are very goodly things; without contra¬ 
diction, I have heard that. 39 

Men. [Aside.} Pompey, a word. 

Pom. [Aside.} Say in mine ear : 

what is’t 1 

Men. [Aside.} Forsake thy seat, I do beseech 
thee, captain, 

And hear me speak a word. 

Pom. [Aside.} Forbear me till anon.— 

This wine for Lepidus. 

Lep. What manner o’ thing is your crocodile 1 

Ant. It is shaped, sir, like itself, and it is as 
broad as it hath breadth ; it is just so high as it is, 
and moves with its own organs; it lives by that 
which nourisheth it; and the elements once out o£ 
it, it transmigrates. 

Lep. What colour is it of 1 50 

Ant ; k Of its own colour too. 

Lep. T is a strange serpent. 

Ant. *T is so : and the tears of it are wet. 

Coes. Will this description satisfy him ? 

Ant. With the health that Pompey gives him, 
else he is a very epicure. 

Pom. [To Men A3, aside.} Go hang, sir, hang I 
Tell me of that 1 away 1 


Beene 7.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


77 


Do as I bid you.—Where’s this cup I called for 1 

Men. [Aside.] If for the sake of merit thou wilt 
hear me, 59 

Rise from thy stooL 

Pom. [Aside.] I think, thou ’rt mad. The matter? 

[ Walks aside. 

Men. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. 

Pom. Thou hast served me with much faith. 
What’s else to say ?— 

Be jolly, lords. 

Ant. These quick-sands, Lepidus, 

Keep off them, for you sink. 

Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world ? 

Pom. What say’st thou ? 

Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? 
That's twice. 

Pom. How should that be ? 

Men. But entertain it, 

And, though thou think me poor, I am the man 
Will give thee all the world. 

Pom. Hast thou drunk well ? 

Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. 
Thou art, if thou dar’st be, the earthly Jove: 71 

Whate’er the ocean pales, or sky inclips, 

Is thine, if thou wilt ha’t. 

Pom. 


Show me which way 0 


78 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act EL 


Men. These three world-sharers, these com¬ 
petitors, 

Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable ; 

And, when we are put off, fall to their throats: 

All then is thine. 

Pom. Ah, this thou shouldst have done, 

And not have spoke on’t. In me, ’t is villainy ; 
In thee, ’t had been good service. Thou must know, 
’T is not my profit that does lead mine honour; 81 
Mine honour, it. Repent, that e’er thy tongue 
Hath so betrayed thine act: being done unknown, 
I should have found it afterwards well done, 

But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink. 

Men. [Aside.'] For this, 

I ’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more. 

Who seeks, and will not take, when once’t is offered, 
Shall never find it more. 

Pom. This health to Lepidus. 

Ant. Bear him ashore.—I ’ll pledge it for him, 
Pompey. 90 

Eno. Here’s to thee, Menas. 

Men. Enobarbus, welcome. 

Pom. Fill, till the cup be hid. 

Eno . There’s a strong fellow, Menas. 

[Pointing to the Attendant who carrier 
of Lepidus. 



Soene 7.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


79 


Men. Why 1 

Eno. ’A bears the third part of the world, man; 
see’st notl 

Men. The third part then is drunk : ’would it 
were all, 

That it might go on wheels ! 

Eno. Drink thou ; increase the reels. 

Men. Come. 100 

Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast. 

Ant. It ripens towards it.—Strike the vessels, 
ho! 

Here is to Csesar. 

Cces. I could well forbear it. 

It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain 
And it grows fouler. 

A nt. Be a child o’ the time. 

Cces. Possess it, I ’ll make answer; but I had 
rather fast 

From all, four days, than drink so much in one. 

Eno. \To Antony.] Ha, my brave emperor ! 
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals, 

And celebrate our drink ? 

Pom. Let’s ha’t, good soldier. 

Ant. Come, let us all take hands, 111 

Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense 
In soft and delicate Lethe. 


80 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


(Act IX. 


Eno. All take hands.— 

Make battery to our ears with the loud music; 

The while I ’ll place you : then, the boy shall sing ; 
The holding every man shall bear, as loud 
As his strong sides can volley. 

\Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand 

in hand 


Song. 


Come , thou monarch of the vine , 

Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne ! 

In thy vats our cares be drowned , 120 

With thy grapes our hairs be crowned / 

Cup us, till the world go round, 

Cup us, till the world go round f 


Cces. What would you morel Pompey, good 
night. Good brother, 

Let me request you off: our graver business 

Frowns at this levity.—Gentle lords, let's part; 

You see, we have burnt our cheeks. Strong 
Enobarb 

Is weaker than the wine ; and mine own tongue 

Splits what it speaks : the wild disguise hath 
almost 

Anticked us all. What needs more words 1 Good 
night.— 130 

Good Antony, your hand. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


81 


Pom. I ’ll try you on the shore. 

Ant. And shall, sir. Give’s your hand. 

Pom. O Antony I 

You have my father’s house.—But what ? we are 
friends. 

Come down into the boat. 

Eno. Take heed you fall not.— 

[Exeunt Pompey, Caesar, Antony, and 
Attendants, 

Menas, I ’ll not on shore. 

Men. No, to my cabin.— 

These drums !—these trumpets, flutes ! what I— 
Let Neptune hear, we bid a loud farewell 
To these great fellows : sound, and be hanged! 
sound out! 

[A flourish of trumpets , with drums. 
Eno. Hoo, says ’a !—There ’s my cap. 139 

Men. Hoo !—Noble captain ! come. [Exeunt. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act m 


ACT III. 

Scene I.—A Plain in Syria. 

Enter Ventidius in triumph , with Silius, and 
other Romans , Officers , and Soldiers ; the dead 
body of Pacorus borne before him. 

Yen. Now, darting Partliia, art thou struck; and 
now 

Pleased fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death 
Make me revenger.—Bear the king’s son’s body 
Before our army.—Thy Pacorus, Orodes, 

Pays this for Marcus Crassus. 

Sil. Noble Ventidius, 

Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm, 
The fugitive Parthians follow: spur through Media, 
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither 
The routed fly : so thy grand captain Antony 
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots, and 10 
Put garlands on thy head. 

Yen. O Silius, Silius, 

I’ve done enough : a lower place, note well, 

May make too great an act: for learn this, Siliua,— 
Better leave undone, than by our deed acquire 
Too high a fame, when him we serve’s away. 

Caesar and Antony have ever won 


Soene I."| 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


83 


More in their officer than person: Sossius, 

One of ray place in Syria, his lieutenant, 

For quick accumulation of renown 19 

Which he achieved by the minute, lost his favour. 
Who does i’ the wars more than his captain can, 
Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition, 

The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss 
Than gain which darkens him. 

I could do more to do Antonius good, 

But’t would offend him ; and in his offence 
Should my performance perish. 

Sil. Thou hast, Yentidius, that 

Without the which a soldier and his sword 
Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to 
Antony 1 

Ven. I ’ll humbly signify what in his name, 30 
That magical word of war, we have effected; 

How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks, 

The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia 
We have jaded out o’ the field. 

Sil. Where is he now % 

Ven. He purposeth to Athens; whither, with 
what haste 

The weight we must convey with’s will permit, 
We shall appear before him.—On, there; pass 
along. [Exeunt. 


84 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Aot in 


Scene II.—Rome. An Ante-chamber in CffiSAB** 
House. 

Enter Agrippa and Enobarbus, meeting . 

Agr. What, are the brothers parted? 

Eno. They have despatched with Pompey: he 
is gone; 

The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps 
To part from Rome ; Caesar is sad ; and Lepidus, 
Since Pompey’s feast, as Menas says, is troubled 
With the green sickness. 

Agr. ’T is a noble Lepidus. 

Eno. A vory fine one. 0, how he loves Caesar 1 
Agr. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark 
Antony ! 

Eno. Caesar? Why, he’s the Jupiter of men. 
Agr. What’s Antony ? the god of Jupiter. 10 
Eno. Spake you of Caesar ? How ! the nonpareil 1 
Agr. O Antony! O thou Arabian bird ! 

Eno. Would you praise Caesar, say, ‘ Caesar 
go no further. 

Agr. Indeed, he plied them both with excellent 
praises. 

Eno . But he loves Caesar best;—yet he loves 
Antony 0 


Scene 2.1 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


85 


Hoo! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, 
cannot 

Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number,—hoo I— 
His love to Antony. But as for Caesar, 

Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder. 

Agr. Both lie loves. 

Eno. They are his shards, and he their beetle 
[Trumpets .] So,— 20 

This is to horse.—Adieu, noble Agrippa. 

Agr. Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell. 

Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia. 
Ant. No further, sir. 

Gees. You take from me a great part of myself; 
Use me well in ’t. —Sister, prove such a wife 
As my thoughts make thee, and as my furthest 
band 

Shall pass on thy approof.—Most noble Antony, 
Let not the piece of virtue which is set 
Betwixt us as the cement o t our love, 

To keep it builded, be the ram to batter 30 

The fortress of it; for far better might we 
Have loved without this mean, if on both parts 
This be not cherished. 

Ant . Make me not offended 

In your distrust. 


ANTONY AND CLEOFATKA. 


[Act Ill. 


Cces. I have said. 

Ant. You shall not find, 

Though you be therein curious, the least cause 
For what you seem to fear. So, the gods keep you 
And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends 1 
We will here part. 

Cces. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well: 
The elements be kind to thee, and make 40 

Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee welL 
Octa. My noble brother !— 

Ant. The April’s in her eyes ; it is love’s spring. 
And these the showers to bring it on.—Be cheerful. 
Octa. Sir, look well to my husband’s house; 
and— 

Cces. What, Octa via 1 

Octa. 111 tell you in your ear. 

Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can 
Her heart inform her tongue,—the swan’s down- 
feather, 

That stands upon the swell at the full of tide, 

And neither way inclines. 

Eno. [Aside to Agrippa.] Will Caesar weept 
Agr. He has a cloud in’s face. 

Eno. He were the worse for that, were he s 
horse; 51 

So is he, being a man 


Scene 2.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


87 


Agr. Why, Enobarbus, 

When Antony found Julius Caesar dead, 

He cried almost to roaring; and he wept, 

When at Philippi he found Brutus slain. 

Eno. That year, indeed, he was troubled with a 
rheum; 

What willingly he did confound he wailed, 

Believe’t, till I wept too. 

Cces. No, sweet Octavia, 

You shall hear from me still: the time shall not 
Out-go my thinking on you. 

Ant. Come, sir, come; 60 

111 wrestle with you in my strength of love: 
Look, here I have you ; thus I let you go, 

And give you to the gods. 

Cces. Adieu; be happy ! 

Lep. Let all the number of the stars give light 
To thy fair way ! 

Cces. Farewell, farewelL [.Kisses Octavia. 

Ant. Ft re well. 

[Trumpets sound. ExeunL 


88 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Actm. 


Scene III.—Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. 
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas. 

Cleo. Where is the fellow ? 

Alex. Half afeared to come. 

Cleo. Go to, go to.—Come hither, sir. 

Enter the Messenger. 

Alex. Good majesty, 

Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you 
But when you are well pleased. 

Cleo. That Herod’s head 

I ’ll have : but how, when Antony is gone 
Through whom I might command it 1 —Come thou 
near. 

Mess. Most gracious majesty,— 

Cleo. Didst thou behold 

Octavia 1 

Mess. Ay, dread queen. 

Cleo. Where 1 

Mess. Madam, in Rome 

I looked her in the face ; and saw her led 10 

Between her brother and Mark Antony. 

Cleo. Is she as tall as me 1 


She is not, madam 


Beene 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


89 


Cleo. Didst hear her speak 1 is she shrill-tongued, 
or low 1 

Mess. Madam, I heard her speak : she is low- 
voiced. 

Cleo. That’s not so good. He cannot like her 
long. 

Char. Like her ] O Isis ! ’t is impossible. 

Cleo. I think so, Charmian : dull of tongue, and 
dwarfish !— 

What majesty is in her gait 1 Remember, 

If e’er thou look’dst on majesty. 

Mess. She creeps; 

Her motion and her station are as one : 20 

She shows a body rather than a life; 

A statue, than a breather 

Cleo, Is this certain 1 

Mess. Or I have no observance. 

Char. Three in Egypt 

Cannot make better note. 

Cleo. He’s very knowii ig, 

I do perceive’t.—There ’s nothing in her yet— 
The fellow has good judgment. 

Char. Excellent. 

Cleo. Guess at her years, I pr’ythee. 


She was a widow— 


Madam, 


90 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act HL 


Cleo. 


Widow 1 —Charmian, hark. 


Mess. And I do think, she’s thirty. 

Cleo. Bear’st thou her face in mind ? is’t long 


or round ? 


30 


Mess. Round, even to faultiness. 

Cleo. For the most part, too, they are foolish 
that are so.— 

Her hair, what colour 1 

Mess. Brown, madam ; and her forehead 
As low as she would wish it. 

Cleo. There’s gold for thee: 

Thou must not take my former sharpness ill. 

I will employ thee back again : I find thee 
Most fit for business. Go, make thee ready ; 

Our letters are prepared. [ Exit Messenger. 

Char. A proper man. 

Cleo. Indeed, he is so : I repent me much, 40 
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, 
This creature’s no such thing. 

Char. Nothing, madam. 

Cleo. The man has seen some majesty, and 
should know. 

Char. Hath he seen majesty ? Isis else defend 
And serving you so long ! 

Cleo. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good 
Charmian : 


Scene 4.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


91 


But ’t is no matter ; thou shalt bring him to me 
Where I will write. All may be well enough. 
Char . I warrant you, madam. [Exeunt 


Scene IV.—Athens. A Room in Antony’s 
House. 

Enter Antony and Octavia 
Ant. Hay, nay, Octavia, not only that,— 

That were excusable, that, and thousands more 
Of semblable import,—but he hath waged 
Hew wars ’gainst Pompey; made his will, and 
read it 

To public ear: 

Spoke scantly of me : when perforce he could not 
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly 
He vented them ; most narrow measure lent me: 
When the best hint was given him, he not took ’i, 
Or did it from his teeth. 

Octa. 0, my good lord, 10 

Believe not all; or, if you must believe, 

Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady, 

If this division chance, ne’er stood between. 
Praying for both parts • 



92 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


LAct in. 


Sure, the good gods will mock me presently, 

When I shall pray, ‘ O, bless my lord and husband 1 9 
Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud, 

* O, bless my brother ! ’ Husband win, win brother,, 
Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway 
*Twixt these extremes at all. 

Ant. Gentle Octavia, 20 

Let your best love draw to that point which seeks 
Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honour, 

I lose myself : better I were not yours, 

Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, 
Yourself shall go between’s: the meantime, lady, 

I ’ll raise the preparation of a war 
Shall stay your brother. Make your soonest 
haste; 

So your desires are yours. 

Octa. Thanks to my lord, 

The Jove of power make me, most weak, most 
weak, 29 

Your reconciler ! Wars ’twixt you twain would be, 
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men 
Should solder up the rift. 

Ant. When it appears to you where this begins. 
Turn your displeasure that way; for our faults 
Can never be so equal, that your love 
Can equally move with them. Provide your goings 


.Scene 5.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


93 


Choose your own company, and command what 
cost 

Your heart has mind to. [Exeunt. 


Scene V. —Athens. Another Room in Antony’s 
House. 

Enter Enobarbus and Eros, meeting. 

Eno. How now, friend Eros 1 
Eros- There’s strange news come, sir. 

Eno. What, man ? 

Eros. Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon 
Pompey. 

Eno. This is old : what is the success 1 
Eros. Caesar, having made use of him in the 
wars ’gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality, 
would not let him partake in the glory of the 
action; and not resting here, accuses him of letters 
he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own 
appeal, seizes him : so the poor third is up, till 
death enlarge his confine. 12 

Eno. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no 
more; 

And throw between them all the food thou hast, 
They ’ll grind the one the other. Where’s Antony ? 



94 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act m. 


Eros. He’s walking in the garden—thus: and 
spurns 

The rush that lies before him; cries, ‘ Fool, 
Lepidus !* 

And threats the throat of that his officer, 

That murdered Pompey. 

Eno. Our great navy’s rigged. 

Eros. For Italy and Cassar. More, Domitius; 
My lord desires you presently : my news 21 

I might have told hereafter. 

Eno. ’T will be naught; 

But let it be.—Bring me to Antony. 

Eros. Come, sir. \Exeuni. 


Scene VL— Borne. A Boom in Caesar’s House. 
Enter Caesar, Agrippa, and Mec^enas. 

Ccbs. Contemning Rome, he has done all this and 
more 

In Alexandria :—here’s the manner of’t— 

I’ the market-place, on a tribunal silvered, 
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold 
Were publicly enthroned : at the feet sat 
Caesarion, whom they call my father’s son, 

And all the unlawful issue that their lust 



Scene S.J 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


95 


Since then hath made between them. Unto her 
He g»,ve the stablishment of Egypt; made her 
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, 10 

Absolute queen. 

Mec. This in the public eye ? 

Ores. V the common show-place, where they 
exercise. 

His sons he there proclaimed the kings of kings; 
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia, 

He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned 

Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She 

In the habiliments of the goddess Isis 

That day appeared ; and oft before gave audience, 

As’t is reported so. 

Mec. Let Rome be thus 

Informed. 

Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence 20 
Already, will their good thoughts call from him. 

Cess. The people know it; and have now received 
His accusations. 

Agr. Whom does he accuse 1 

Goes . Caesar ; and that, having in Sicily 
Sextus Pompeius spoiled, we had not rated him 
His part o’ the isle: then does he say, he lent me 
Some shipping unrestored : lastly, he frets 
That Lepidus of the triumvirate 


96 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[ACS III 


Should be deposed ; and, being, that we detain 
All his revenue. 

Agr. Sir, this should be answered. 30 

Cces. ’T is done already, and the messenger gone 
I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel; 

That he his high authority abused, 

And did deserve his change: for what I have 
conquered, 

I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, 

And other of his conquered kingdoms, I 
Demand the like. 

Mec. He ’ll never yield to that. 

Cces. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. 

Enter Octavia with her Train. 

Octa. Hail, Caesar, and my lord ! hail, most dear 
Caesar! 

Cces. That ever I should call thee castaway! 40 
Octa. You have not called me so, nor have yo* 
cause. 

Cces. Why have you stol’n upon us thus! 5Tou 
come not 

Like Caesar’s sister: the wife of Antony 
Should have an army for an usher, and 
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach, 

Long ere she did appear : th^ trees by the way 


Scene 6. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


97 


Should have borne men, and expectation fainted, 
Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust 
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven, 
Raised by your populous troops. But you are come 
A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented 51 
The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown, 
Is often left unloved : we should have met you 
By sea and land, supplying every stage 
With an augmented greeting. 

(hta. Good my lord, 

To come thus was I not constrained, but did it 
On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony, 
Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted 
My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begged 
His pardon for return. 

Ccps. Which soon he granted, 60 

Being an obstruct ’tween his lust and him. 

Octa. Do not say so, my lord. 

Coes. I have eyes upon him, 

And his affairs come to me on the wind. 

Where is he now 1 

Octa. My lord, in Athens. 

Coes. Ho, my most wronged sister ; Cleopatra 
Hath nodded him to her. He hath given hia 
empire 

CJp to a whore; who now are levying 


98 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act in. 


The kings o’ the earth for war. He hath assembled 
Bocchus, the king of Libya ; Archelaus, 

Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king 70 

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas ; 
King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont; 

Herod of Jewry ; Mithridates, king 
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas, 

The kings of Mede, and Lycaonia, 

With a more larger list of sceptres. 

Octa. Ah me, most wretched, 

That have my heart parted betwixt two friends 
That do afflict each other ! 

Cce8. Welcome hither. 

Your letters did withhold our breaking forth, 

Till we perceived both how you were wrong led. 80 
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart. 
Be you not troubled with the time, which drives 
O’er your content these strong necessities ; 

But let determined things to destiny 
Hold unbewailed their way. Welcome to Rome; 
Nothing more dear to me. You are abused 
Beyond the mark of thought; and the high gods, 
To do you justice, make their ministers 
Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort; 
And ever welcome to us. 

Agr. 


Welcome, lady. 90 


Scene 7.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


99 


Mec. Welcome, dear madam. 

Each heart in Rome does love and pity you : 

Only the adulterous Antony, most large 
In his abominations, turns you off; 

And gives his potent regiment to a trull, 

That noises it against us. 

Octa. Is it so, sir ? 

Coes. Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you. 
Be ever known to patience: my dear’st sister! 

[Exeunt* 


Scene YIL—Antony’s Camp, near the Promon¬ 
tory of Actium. 

Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus. 

Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not, 

Eno. But why, why, why 1 
Cleo. Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars, 
And say’st it is not fit. 

Eno . WeJ, is it, is it? 

Cleo. If not denounced against us, why should 
not we 

Be there in person ? 

Eno. [Aside.'] Well, I could reply :— 

If we should serve with horse and mares together. 



too 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act m. 


The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear 
A soldier and his horse. 

Cleo. What is ’c you say ? 9 

Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony ; 
Take from his heart, take from his brain, from’s 
time, 

What should not then be spared. He is already 
Traduced for levity ; and’t is said in Rome 
That Photinus, an eunuch, and your maids 
Manage this war. 

Cleo. Sink Rome, and their tongues rot 

That speak against us ! A charge we bear i’ the 
war, 

And, as the president of my kingdom, will 
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it j 
I will not stay behind. 

Eno. Nay, I have done. 

Here comes the emperor. 

Enter Antony and Canidius. 

Ant. Is ’t not strange, Canidius, 

That from Tarentum, and Brundusium, .21 

He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, 

And take in Toryne 1 —You have heard on 
sweet 1 

Cleo. Celerity is never more admired 


Scene 7.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


101 


Than by the negligent. 

Ant. A good rebuke, 

Which might have well becomed the best of men. 
To taunt at slackness.—Canidius, we 
Will fight with him by sea. 

Cleo. By sea! What else 1 

Can. Why will my lord do so ? 

Ant. For that he dares us to ’t. 

Eno. So hath my lord dared him to single fight. 

Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, 
Where Caesar fought with Pompey; but these 
offers, 31 

Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; 
And so should you. 

Eno. Your ships are not well manned ; 

Your mariners are muliters, reapers, people 
Ingrossed by swift impress : in Caesar’s fleet 
Are those that often have ’gainst Pompey fought: 
Their ships are yare; yours, heavy. No disgrace 
Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, 

Being, prepared for land. 

Ant. By sea, by sea. 

Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away 
The absolute soldiership you have by land ; 41 

Distract your army, which doth most consist 
Of war-marked footmen; leave unexecuted 


102 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act in. 


Your own renowned knowledge ; quite forego 
The way which promises assurance, and 
Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard. 
From firm security. 

Ant. I ’ll fight at sea. 

Cleo. I have sixty sails, Caesar none better^ 

Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn ; 
And with the rest, full-manned, from the head of 
Actium 50 

Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail, 

W- then can do’t at land. 

Enter a Messenger . 

Thy business 1 

Mess. The news is true, my lord; he is descried; 
Caesar has taken Toryne. 

Ant. Can he be there in person 1 ’tis impossible ; 
Strange, that his power should be.—Canidius, 

Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, 

And our twelve thousand horse:—we’ll to omr 
ship. 

Away, my Thetis 1 

Enter a Soldier. 

How now, worthy soldier 1 
Sold. O noble emperor, do not fight by sea; 60 


Scene 7.J 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


103 


Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt 
This sword, and these my wounds? Let the 
Egyptians 

And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we 
Have used to conquer standing on the earth, 

And fighting foot to foot 

Ant. Well, well.—Away ! 

[.Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus. 
Sold. By Hercules, I think, I am i’ the right. 
Can. Soldier, thou art; but his whole action 
grows 

Not in the power on’t: so our leader’s led, 

And we are women’s men. 

Sold. You keep by land 

The legions and the horse whole, do you not ? 70 

Can. Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius ; 
Publicola, and Cselius, are for sea; 

But we keep whole by land. This speed of 
Caesar’s 

Carries beyond belief. 

Sold. While he was yet in Rome, 

His power went out in such distractions as 
Beguiled all spies. 

Can. Who’s his lieutenant, hear you ? 

Sold. They say, one Taurus. 

Can. Well I know the man. 


104 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act III. 


Enter a Messenger. 

Mess . The emperor calls Canidius. 

Can. With news the time’s with labour, and 
throes forth 79 

Each minute some. [ Exeunt, 


Scene VIII.—A Plain near Actium. 

Enter Caesar, Taurus, Officers, and others . 

Coes. Taurus ! 

Taur. My lord 1 

Coes. Strike not by land ; 

keep whole: 

Provoke not battle, till we have done at sea. 

Do not exceed the prescript of this scroll: 

Our fortune lies upon this jump [Exewnt 

Enter Antony and Enobarbus. 

Ant. Set we our squadrons on yond side o’ the 
hill, 

In eye of Caesar’s battle; from which place 
We may the number of the ships behold, 

And so proceed accordingly. [Exeunt, 



Scene 40 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


105 > 


Enter Canidius, marching with his land Army one 
way over the stage ; and Taurus, the Lieutenant 
of CjESAR, the other way. After their going in, 
is heard the noise of a sea-fight. 

Alarum. Re-enter Enobarbus. 

Eno. Naught, naught, all naught! I can bo- 
hold no longer. 

The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, 10 

With all their sixty, fly, and turn the rudder: 

To see’t, mine eyes are blasted. 

Enter ScARua 

Scar. Gods, and goddesses, 

All the whole synod of them ! 

Eno. What’s thy passion 1 

Scar. The greater cantle of the world is lost 
With very ignorance: we have kissed away 
Kingdoms and provinces. 

Eno. How appears the fight 1 

Scar. On our side like the tokened pestilence, 
Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of 

Egypt*— 

Whom leprosy o’ertake !—i’ the midst o’ the fight, 
When vantage like a pair of twins appeared, 20 


106 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IDL 


Both as the same, or rather ours the elder v — 

The breese upon her, like a cow in June, 

Hoists sails, and flies. 

Eno. That I beheld : 

Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not 
Endure a further view. 

Scar. She once being loofed, 

The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, 

Olaps on his sea-wing, and like a doting mallard, 
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her. 

I never saw an action of such shame : 

Experience, manhood, honour, ne’er before 30 
Did violate so itself. 

Eno. Alack, alack 1 

Enter Canidius. 

Can. Our fortune on the sea is out of breath, 
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general 
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well: 

O, he has given example for our flight, 

Most grossly, by his own. 

Eno. Ay, are you thereabouts I 

Why then, good night, indeed. 

Can. Towards Peloponnesus are they fled. 

Scar. ’T is easy to’t; and there I will attend 
What further comes. 


Scene 9.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


107 


Can. To Caesar will I render 

My legions, and my horse : six kings already 40 
Show me the way of yielding. 


Eno. 

The wounded 
reason 


Sits in the wind against me. 


I ’ll yet follow 

chance of Antony, though my 


[Exeunt. 


Scene IX.—Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. 
Enter Antony and Attendants. 

Ant. Hark ! the land bids me tread no more 
upon’t; 

It is ashamed to bear me.—Friends, come hither: 

I am so lated in the world, that I 
Have lost my way for ever.—I ’ve a ship 
Laden with gold ; take that; divide it, fly, 

And make your peace with Caesar. 

Att. Fly ! not we. 

Ant. I have fled myself, and have instructed 
cowards 

To run, and show their shoulders.—Friends, be 
gone; 

I have myself resolved upon a course, 

Which has no need of you ; be gone: 


10 



108 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. [Act HL 

My treasure’s in the harbour, take it.—O, 

I followed that I blush to look upon : 

My very hairs do mutiny ; for the white 
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them 
For fear and doting.—Friends, be gone : you shall 
Have letters from me to some friends that will 
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad, 
Nor make replies of loatliness : take the hint 
Which my despair proclaims ; let that be left 
Which leaves itself : to the sea-side straightway : 

I will possess you of that ship and treasure. 21 
Leave me, I pray, a little ; pray you now :— 

Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command, 
Therefore, I pray you. I ’ll see you by-and-by. 

[Sits down . 

Enter Eros, and Cleopatra, led by Charmian 
and Iras. 

Eros. Nay, gentle madam, to him; comfort him. 
Iras. Do, most dear queen. 

Char. Do ! Why, what else 1 
Cleo, Let me sit down. O Juno! 

Ant. No, no, no, no, no. 

Eros. See you here, sir ? 

Ant. 0 fie, fie, fie 1 
Char. Madam,— 


30 


Beetle 9.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


10S> 


Iras. Madam ; 0 good empress 1— 

Eros. Sir, sir,— 

Ant. Yes, my lord, yes.—He at Philippi kept 
His sword e’en like a dancer; while I struck 
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and’t was I 
That the mad Brutus ended : he alone 
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had 39 
In the brave squares of war : yet now—No matter. 
Cleo. Ah, stand by. 

Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen. 

Iras. Go to him, madam, speak to him : 

He is unqualitied with very shame. 

Cleo. Well then,—sustain me :—0 ! 

Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen ap 
/ proaches: 

Her head’s declined, and death will seize her, but 
Your comfort makes the rescue. 

Ant. I have offended reputation,— 

A most unnoble swerving. 

Eros. Sir, the queen. 50 

Ant. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt 1 See> 
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes 
By looking back on what I have left behind 
’Stroy’d in dishonour. 

Cleo. O my lord, my lord 1 

Forgive my fearful sails: I little thought 


no 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


[Act in 


You would have followed. 


Ant. 


Egypt, thou knew’st too well, 


My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings, 
And thou shouldst tow me after: o’er my spirit 


Thy full supremacy thou knew’st, and that 


Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods 60 
Command me. 


0 , my pardon! 


Cleo. 

Ant. 


Now I must 


To the young man send humble treaties, dodge 
And palter in the shifts of lowness, who 
With half the bulk o’ the world played as I pleased, 
Making and marring fortunes. You did know, 
How much you were my conqueror; and that 
My sword, made weak by my affection, would 
Obey it on all cause. 

Cleo. Pardon, pardon ! 

Ant. Fall not a tear, I say : one of them rates 
^11 that is won and lost. Give me a kiss; 70 

Even this repays me.—We sent our schoolmaster; 
Is he come back ?—Love, I am full of lead.— 

Some wine, within there, and our viands !—Fortune 
knows, 

We scorn her most when most she offers blows. 



Boone 10.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


Ill 


Scene X.— Cesar’s Camp in Egypt. 

Enter Caesar, Dolabella, Thyreus, and others. 

Gees. Let him appear that’s come from An¬ 
tony.— 

Know you him I 

Dol. Caesar, ’t is his schoolmaster : 

An argument that he is plucked, when hither 
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing, 

Which had superfluous kings for messengers 
Not many moons gone by. 

Enter Euphronius. 

Coes. Approach, and speak. 

Euph. Such as I am, I come from Antony: 

I was of late as petty to his ends 

As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf 9 

To his grand sea. 

Coes. Be’t so. Declare thine office. 

Euph. Lord of his fortunes he saluteb thee, and 
Requires to live in Egypt; which not granted, 

He lessens his requests, and to thee sues 

To let him breathe between the heavens and earth, 

A private man in Athens. This for him. 

Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness. 


112 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


(Act m 


Submits her to thy might, and of thee ciaves 
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs, 

Now hazarded to thy grace. 

Coes. For Antony, 

I have no ears to his request. The queen 20 

Of audience, nor desire, shall fail, so she 
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend, 

Or take his life there : this if she perform, 

She shall not sue unheard. So to them both. 
Euph. Fortune pursue thee ! 

Coes, Bring him through the bands 

[Exit Euphronius. 
[To Thyreus.] To try thy eloquence, now ’t is 
time; despatch. 

From Antony win Cleopatra : promise, 

And in our name, what she requires; add more,- 
From thine invention, offers. Women are not 
In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure 
The ne’er-touched vestal. Try thy cunning, Thyreus; 
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we 32 
Will answer as a law. 

Thyr. Caesar, I go. 

Cces. Observe how Antony becomes his flaw, 
And what thou think’st his very action speaks 
In every power that moves. 

Thyr. Csesar, I shall. [Exeunt. 


Qoene 11.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


113 


Scene XI.—Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra’s 
Palace. 

Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, and 
Iras. 

Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus? 

Eno. Think, and die, 

Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this ? 

Eno. Antony only, that would make his will 
Lord of his reason. What though you fled 
From that great face of war, whose several ranges 
Frighted each other, why should he follow ? 

The itch of his affection should not then 
Have nicked his captainship; at such a point, 
When half to half the world opposed, he being 
The mereid question. ’T was a shame no less 10 
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags, 

And leave his navy gazing. 

Cleo. Pr’ythee, peace. 

Enter Antony, with Euphroniusl 

Ant. Is that his answer 1 

Euph. Ay, my lord. 

Ant. The queen shall then have courtesy, so she 
Will yielcPus up. 


114 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act HI 


Euph. He says so. 

Ant. Let her know’t. 

To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head, 

And he will fill thy wishes to the brim 
With principalities. 

Cleo. That head, my lord ? 

Ant. To him again. Tell him, he wears tho 
rose 20 

Of youth upon him, from which the world should 
note 

Something particular : his coin, ships, legions, 

May be a coward’s; whose ministers would prevail 
Under the service of a child as soon 
As i ; the command of Caesar: I dare him therefore 
To lay his gay comparisons apart, 

And answer me declined, sword against sword, 
Ourselves alone. I ’ll write it: follow me. 

[Eoceunt Antony and Euphronius. 
Eno. [ Aside .] Yes, like enough, high-battled 
Caesar will 

Unstate his happiness, and be staged to the show 
Against a sworder !—I see, men’s judgments are 31 
A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward 
X)o draw the inward quality after them, 

To suffer all alike. That he should dream, 
Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will 


Scene 11,] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


115 


Ans :/er his emptiness !—Caesar, thou hast subdued 
His judgment too. 

Enter an Attendant. 

Att. A messenger from Caesar. 

Cleo. What, no more ceremony 1—See my 
women!— 

Against the blown rose may they stop their nose 
That kneeled unto the buds.—Admit him, sir. 40 
Eno. [Aside.] Mine honesty and I begin to 
square. 

The loyalty well held to fools does make 
Our faith mere folly : yet he that can endure 
To follow with allegiance a fall’n lord, 

Docs conquer him that did his master conquer, 

And earns a place i’ the story. 

% 

Enter Thyreus. 

Cleo. Caesar’s will. 

Thyr. Hear it apart. 

Cleo. None but friends : say boldly. 

Thyr. So, haply, are they friends to Antony. 

Eno. He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has, 

Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master 50 
Will leap to be his friend : for us, you know 
Whose he is, we are, and that’s Caesar’s. 


116 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATEA. 


[Act IS. 


Thyr. So.— 

Thus then, thou most renowned : Caesar entreats, 
Not to consider in what case thou stand’st, 

Further than he is Caesar. 

Cleo. Go on : right royal 

Thyr. He knows that you embrace not Antony 
As you did love but as you feared him. 

Cleo. 0! 

Thyr. The scars upon your honour therefore he 
Does pity as constrained blemishes, 

Not as deserved. 

Cleo. He is a god, and knows 60 

What is most right. Mine honour was not 
yielded, 

But conquered merely. 

Eno. [Aside.'] To be sure of that, 

I will ask Antony.—Sir, sir, thou ’rt so leaky 
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for 
Thy dearest quit thee. [Exit. 

Thyr. Shall I say to Caesar 

What you require of him ? for he partly begs 

be desired to give. It much would ple*«je 
him, 

That of his fortunes you should make a staff 
To lean upon; but it would warm his spirits, 

To hear from me you had left Autony 


70 


Scene ll.J ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


117 


And put yourself under his shroud, 
The universal landlord. 


Cleo. 


What’s your name ? 


Thyr. My name is Thyreus. 


Cleo. 


Most kind messenger, 


Say to great Caesar this : in deputation 
I kiss his conqu’ring hand : tell him, I am prompt 
To lay my crown at his feet, and there to kneel: 
Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear 
The doom of Egypt. 

Thyr. ’T is your noblest course. 

Wisdom and fortune combating together, 

If that the former dare but what it can, 80 

No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay 
My duty on your hand. 

Cleo. Your Caesar’s father oft. 

When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in. 
Bestowed his lips on that unworthy place 
As it rained kisses. 

Re-enter Antony and Enobarbus. 

Ant. Favours, by Jove that thunders!— 

What art thou, fellow 1 

Thyr. One, that but performs 

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest 
To have command obeyed. 


118 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act m. 


Eno. [Aside."] You will be whipped. 

Ant. Approach, there.—Ay, you kite !—Now, 
gods and devils! 

Authority melts from me : of late, when I cried, 
‘Ho!’ 90 

Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth, 
And cry, ‘Your will?’ Have you no ears? 

Enter Attendants. 

I am Antony yet Take hence this Jack, and 
whip him. 

Eno. [Aside.] ’T is better playing with a lion’s 
whelp, 

Than with an old one dying. 

Ant. Moon and stars ! 

Whip him.—Were’t twenty of the greatest tribu¬ 
taries 

That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them 
So saucy with the hand of—she here (what’s her 
name, 

Since she was Cleopatra?)—Whip him, fellows, 
Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face, 100 
And whine aloud for mercy. Take him hence. 

Thyr. Mark Antony,— 

Ant. Tug him away : being whipped, 

Bring him again.—This Jack of Caesar’s shall 


Scene 11.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


119 


Bear us an errand to him.— 

\Exeunt Attendants with Thyreuel 
You were half blasted ere I knew you : ha ! 

Have I my pillow left un pressed in Rome, 
Forborne the getting of a lawful race, 

And by a gem of women, to be abused 
By one that looks on feeders 1 

Cleo. Good my lord,— 

Ant. You have been a boggier ever:— 110 

But when we in our viciousness grow hard,— 

O misery on’t!—the wise gods seel our eyes; 

In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make 
us 

Adore our errors; laugh at’s, while we strut 
To our confusion. 

Cleo. 0, is’t come to this 

Ant. I found you as a morsel cold upon 
Dead Caesar’s trencher ; nay, you were a fragment 
Of Cneius Pompey’s; besides what hotter hours, 
Unregistered in vulgar fame, you have 
Luxuriously picked out: for, I am sure, 120 

Though you can guess what temperance should be, 
You know not what it is. 

Cleo. Wherefore is this 1 

Ant. To let a fellow that will take rewards, 

And say, ‘God quit you I’ be familiar with 


120 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act HI 


My playfellow, your hand, this kingly seal, 

And plighter of high hearts !—O, that I were 

Upon the hill of Basan to outroar 

The horned herd ! for I have savage cause ; 

And to proclaim it civilly, were like 1-9 

A haltered neck which does the hangman thank 
For being yare about him.— 

Re-enter Attendants , with Thyreus. 

Is he whipped ? 

1 Att. Soundly, my lord. 

Ant. Cried he 1 and begged he pardon 1 

1 Att. He did ask favour. 

Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent 
Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou 
sorry 

To follow Caesar in his triumph, since 
Thou hast been whipped for following him: 
henceforth, 

The white hand of a lady fever thee; 

Shake thou to look on \ Get thee back to Caesar, 
Tell him thy entertainment: look, thou say, 140 
He makes me angry with him; for he seems 
Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am, 

Not what he knew I was. He makes mo angry; 
And at this time most easy’t is to do’t. 


Rc<;ne 1L] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


121 


When my good stars that were my former guides 
Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires 
Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike 
My speech, and what is done, tell him, he has 
Hipparchus, my enfranch&i bondman, whom 
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture, 150 
As he shall like, to quit me. Urge it thou : 
Hence, with thy stripes, be gone ! [Exit Thyreusl 

Cleo. Have you done yet 1 

Ant. Alack ! our terrene moon 

Is now eclipsed, and it portends alone 
The fall of Antony. 

Cleo. I must stay his time. 

Ant. To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes 
With one that ties his points 1 

Cleo. Hot know me yet? 

Ant. Cold-hearted toward me ? 

Cleo. Ah, dear, if I be so, 

From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, 

And poison it in the source ; and the first stone 
Drop in my neck : as it determines, so 161 

Dissolve my life; the next, Caesarion smite, 

Till by degrees the memory of my womb, 

Together with my brave Egyptians-all, 

By the discandying of this pelleted storm. 

Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile 


122 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act ILL 


Have buried them for prey ! 

Ant. I am satisfied. 

Caesar sits down in Alexandria, where 
I will oppose his fate. Our force by land 
Hath nobly held ; our severed navy too 170 

Have knit again, and fleet, threat’ning most sealike. 
Where hast thou been, my heart 1 —Dost thou hear, 
lady 1 

If from the field I shall return once more 
To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood ; 

I and my sword will earn our chronicle: 

There’s hope in ’t yet. 

Cleo. That’s my brave lord ! 

Ant. I will be treble-sinewed, hearted, breathed, 
And fight maliciously : for when mine hours 
Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives 
Of me for jests ; but now, I ’ll set my teeth, ISO 
And send to darkness all that stop me.—Come, 

Let’s have one other gaudy night.—Call to me 
All my sad captains: fill our bowls; once more 
Let’s mock the midnight bell. 

Cleo. It is my birthday 

I had thought to have held it poor; but, since my 
lord ' 

Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra. 

Ant. We will yet do well 


Soone 11.3 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


123 


Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my lord. 

Ant. Do so ; we ’ll speak to them ; and to-night 
I ’ll force 

The wine peep through their scars.—Come on, my 
queen; 190 

There’s sap in’t yet. The next time I do fight, 

I ’ll make death love me, for I will contend 
Even with his pestilent scythe. 

[Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and 
Attendants .] 

Eno . Now he ’ll outs tare the lightning. To be 
furious, 

Is to be frighted out of fear ; and, in that mood, 
The dove will peck the estridge : and I see still, 

A diminution in our captain’s brain 
Restores his heart. When valour preys on reason. 
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek 199 
Some way to leave him. [Exit, 


J24 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 




ACT IV. 

Scene L—Cesar’s Camp at Alexandria 

Enter Cm sar, reading a letter ; Agrippa, Mec2ENAS, 
and others. 

Gees. He calls me boy, and cbides, as he had 
power 

To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger 
He hath whipped with rods ; dares me to personal 
combat, 

Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know, 

I have many other ways to die ; meantime, 

Laugh at his challenge. 

Mec. Caesar must think, 

When one so great begins to rage, he’s hunted 
Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now 
Make boot of his distraction. Never anger 
Made good guard for itself. 

Ccez, Let our best heads 10 

Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles 
We mean to fight. Within our files there are, 

Of those that served Mark Antony but late, 
Enough to fetch him in. See it done ; 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


125 


And feast the army : we have store to do % 

And they have earned the waste. Poor Antony ! 

[Exeunt. 


Scene IL — Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra’s 
Palace. 

Enter Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, 
Iras, Alexas, and others. 

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius. 

Eno. Ho. 

Ant. Why should he not 1 
Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of bettei 
fortune, 

He is twenty men to one. 

Ant. To-morrow, soldier, 

By sea and land I ’ll fight: or I will live, 

Or bathe my dying honour in the blood 
Shall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well ! 
Eno. I ’ll strike, and cry, * Take all.’ 

Ant. Well said; come on— 

Call forth my household servants : let ’s to-night 
Be bounteous at our meal. 

Enter Servants. 

Give me thy hand, 10 



126 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBa. 


lAct IV. 


Thou hast been rightly honest;—so hast thou ;— 
And thou,—and thou,—and thou :—you’ve served 
me well, 

And kings have been your fellows. 

Cleo. [Aside to Eno.] What means this! 

Eno. [Aside to Cleo.] ’T is one of those odd 
tricks which sorrow shoots 
Out of the mind. 

Ant. And thou art honest toa 

I wish I could be made so many men, 

And all of you clapped up together in 
An Antony, that I might do you service 
So good as you have done. 

Serv. The gods forbid ! 

Ant. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night i 
Scant not my cups, and make as much of me, 21 
As when mine empire was your fellow too, 

And suffered my command. 

Cleo. [Aside to Eno.] What does he meant 
Eno. [Aside to Cleo.] To make his followers 
weep. 

Ant. Tend me to-night; 

May be, it is the period of your duty : 

Haply, you shall not see me more; or if, 

A mangled shadow : perchance, to-morroi 
Tou ’ll serve another master. I look on yoa 


Scene 2 .) 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


127 


As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends, 
I turn you not away; but, like a master 30 

Married to your good service, stay till death : 

Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more, 

And the gods yield you for’t! 

Eno. What mean you, sir, 

To give them this discomfort ? Look, they weep ; 
And I, an ass, am onion-eyed : for shame, 
Transform us not to women. 

Ant. Ho, ho, ho ! 

How, the witch take me, if I meant it thus ! 

Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty 
friends, 

You take me in too dolorous a sense, 

For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire 
you 40 

To burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts, 
I hope well of to-morrow ; and will lead you 
Where rather I ’ll expect victorious life 
Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come, 
And drown consideration. [Exeunt 


128 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, 


{Act IV. 


Scene III.—Alexandria. Before Cleopatra’s 
Palace. 

Enter two Soldiers , to their guard . 

1 Sold. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the 

day. 

2 Sold. It will determine one way : fare you well. 
Heard you of nothing strange about the streets 1 

1 Sold. Nothing. What news 1 

2 Sold. Belike, ’t is but a rumour. Good night 

to you. 

1 Sold. Well, sir, good night. 

Enter two other Soldiers. 

2 Sold. Soldiers, have careful watch. 

$-*Sold. And you. Good night, good night. 

[The first two place themselves at their posts.'\ 
4 Sold. Here we : [they take their posts ] and if 
to-morrow 

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope 9 

Our landmen will stand up. 

3 Sold . ’T is a brave army, 

And full of purpose. 

[Music of hautboys underground. 
Peace I what noise 1 


4 Sold. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


129 


1 Sold. List, list! 

2 Sold. Hark ! 

1 Sold. Music i’ the air. 

3 Sold. Under the earth, 

4 Sold. It signs well, does it not ? 

3 Sold. No. 

1 Sold. Peace, I say ! 

What should this mean ? 

2 Sold. ’T is the god Hercules, whom Antony 

loved, 

Now leaves him. 

1 Sold. Walk ; let’s see if other watchmen 
Do hear what we do. 

\They advance to another post. 

2 Sold. How now, masters 1 

Soldiers. [Speaking together .] How now 1 

How now 1 do you hear this 1 

1 Sold. Ay; is *t not strange 9 

3 Sold. Do you hear, masters 1 do you hear 1 21 
1 Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have 

quarter; 

Let’s see how ; t will give off. 

Soldier & Content. *T is stranga 

[ExeunL 


130 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act 17, 


Scene XV.—Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's 
Palace. 

Enter Antony and Cleopatra; Charmian, and 
others , attending. 

Ant. Eros ! mine armour, Eros ! 

Cleo. Sleep a little. 

Ant. No, my chuck.—Eros, come ; mine armour, 
Eros! 

Enter Eros, with armour. 

Come, good fellow, put mine iron on 
If fortune be not ours to-day, it is 
Because we brave her.—Coma 

Cleo. Nay, I ’ll lelp too. 

What’s this for 1 

Ant. Ah, let be, let be! thou art 

The armourer of my heart:—false, false; this, 
this. 

Cleo. Sooth, la, I ’ll help. Thus it must be. 

Ant. Well, well; 

We shall thrive now.—Seest thou, my good fellow I 
Go, put on thy defences. 

Eros. Briefly, sir. 

Cleo. Is not this buckled well i 


10 


Scene 4.) 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


131 


Ant. Rarely, rarely: 

He that unbuckles this, till we do please 
To doff’t for our repose, shall hear a storm.— 
Thou fumblest, Eros ; and my queen’s a squire 
More tight at this than thou. Despatch.—O love^ 
That thou could see my wars to-day, and knew’st 
The royal occupation! thou shouldst see 
A workman in t. 

Enter an armed Soldier. 

Good morrow to thee; welcome: 
Thou look’st like him that knows a warlike charge : 
To business that we love we rise betime, 20 

And go to’t with delight. 

Sold. A thousand, sir, 

Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim, 
And at the port expect you. 

[Shout. Trumpets flourish. 

Enter Captains and Soldiers. 

Capt. The morn is fair.—Good morrow, general. 
All. Good morrow, general. 

Ant. 'T is well blown, lads. 

This morning, like the spirit of a youth 
That means to be of note, begins betimes.— 

So, so ; come, give me that: this way; well said. 


132 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


'Act IV. 


Far© thee well, dame : whate’er becomes of me, 
This is a soldier’s kiss. [Kisses Aer.] Rebukable, 30 
And worthy shameful check it were, to stand 
On more mechanic compliment: I ’ll leave thee 
Now, like a man of steel.—You, that will fight, 
Follow me close; I ’ll bring you to’t.—Adieu. 

[.Exeunt Antony, Eros, Officers, and Soldier 0 . 
Char. Please you, retire to your chamber. 

CUo. Lead mo. 

He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar 
might 

Determine this great war in single fight l 

Then Antony—but now—Well, on. [Exeunt. 


Scene V. —Antony’s Camp near Alexandria. 
Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros ; Q 
Soldier meeting them. 

Sold. The gods make this a happy day to 
Antony ! 

Ant. Would thou, and those thy scars, had once 
prevailed 

To make me fight at land 1 
Sold. 


Hadst thou done so, 



Scene 5.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


133 


The kings that have revolted, and the soldier 
That has this morning left thee, would have still 
Followed thy heels. 

Ant . Who’s gone this morning 1 

Sold, Who ? 


One ever near thee : call for Enobarbus, 

He shall not hear thee ; or from Caesar’s camp 
Say, ‘ I am none of thine.’ 

Ant. What say’st thou ? 

Sold. Sir, 

He is with Caesar. 

Eros. Sir, his chests and treasure 10 

He has not with him. 

Ant. Is he gone 1 

Sold. Most certain. 

Ant. Go, Eros, send his treasure after, do it: 
Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him— 

I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings: 

Say, that I wish he never find more cause 
To change a master.—0, my fortunes have 
Corrupted honest men !—Despatch.—Enobarbus ! 

\Exeun&> 


134 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IV. 


Scene VI.—Caesar’s Camp before Alexandria. 

Flourish. Enter CiESAR, with Agrippa, Enq* 
barbus, and others. 


C(ps. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight 
Our will is, Antony be took alive; 

Make it so known. 

Agr. Caesar, I shall. 

Cons. The time of universal peace is near : 

Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nooked 
world 

Shall bear the olive freely. 


Enter a Messenger . 

Mess. Antony 

Is come into the field. 

Cces. Go, charge Agrippa 

Plant those that have revolted in the van, 

That Antony may seem to spend his fury 10 

Upon himself. \Exeunt Caesar and his Train. 

Eno. Alexas did revolt, and went to Jewry, 

On affairs of Antony; there did persuade 
Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar, 

And leave his master Antony: for this pains, 
Caesar hath hanged him. Canidius, and the rest 


Scene 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


135 


That fell away, have entertainment, but 
No honourable trust. I have done ill, 

Of which I do accuse myself so sorely. 

That I will joy no more. 

Enter a Soldier of C^sar’b. 

Sold. Enobarbus, Antony 20 

Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with 
His bounty overplus : the messenger 
Came on my guard, and at thy tent is now 
Unloading of his mules. 

Eno. I give it you. 

Sold. Mock not, Enobarbus. 

1 tell you true: best you safed the bringer 
Out of the host; I must attend mine office, 

Or would have done’t myself. Yonr emperor 
Continues still a Jove. [Exit. 

Eno. I am alone the villain of the earth, 30 
And feel I am so most. O Antony! 

Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid 
My better service, when my turpitude 
Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my 
heart: 

If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean 
Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do \ 
I feel. 


136 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


(Act IV 


I fight against thee !—No: I will go seek 
Some ditch, wherein to die: the foul’st best fits 
My latter part of life. [Exit 


Scene VII.—Field of Battle between the 
Camps. 

Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter Agrippa 
and others. 

Agr. Retire, we have engaged ourselves too far. 
Csesar himself has work, and our oppression 
Exceeds what we expected. [ Exeunt . 

Alarum. Enter Antony and Scarus wounded. 
Scar . O my brave emperor, this is fought 
indeed! 

Had we done so at first, we had driven them homo 
With clouts about their heads. 

Ant. Thou bleed’st apace. 

Scar. I had a wound here that was like a T, 

But now’t is made an H. 

Ant. They do retire. 

Scar . We ’ll beat ’em into bench-holes. I have 
yet 

Room for six scotches more. 


10 



Scene 8.) 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


137 


Enter Eros. 

Eros. They are beaten, sir; and our advantage 
serves 

For a fair victory. 

Scar. Let us score their backs, 

And snatch ’em up, as we take hares, behind: 

; T is sport to maul a runner. 

Ant. I will reward thee 

Once for thy sprightly comfort, and ten-fold 
For thy good valour. Come thee on. 

Scar. I ’ll halt after. [Exeunt. 


Scene VIII.—Under the Walls of Alexandria. 

Alarum. Enter Antony, marching; Scarus and 
Forces. 

Ant. We have beat him to his camp. Run one 
before, 

And let the queen know of our guests.--To¬ 
morrow, 

Before the sun shall see us, we ’ll spill the blood 
That has to-day escaped. I thank you all; 

For doughty-handed are you, and have fought 
Not as you served the cause, but as it h»d been 



138 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act rv. 


Each man’s like mine : you have shown all Hectors. 
Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends, 

Tell them your feats ; whilst they with joyful tears 
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss 
The honoured gashes whole.—Give me thy hand : 

Enter Cleopatra, attended. 

To this great fairy I ’ll commend thy acts, 12 

Make her thanks bless tliee.—0 thou day o’ the 
world ! 

Chain mine armed neck; leap thou, attire and all. 
Through proof of harness to my heart, and there 
Ride on the pants triumphing. 

Cleo. Lord of lords I 

O infinite virtue ! com’st thou smiling from 
The world’s great snare uncaught ? 

Ant. My nightingale, 

We have beat them to their beds. What, girl 1 
though grey 

Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet 
ha’ we 20 

A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can 
Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man ; 
Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand > 
Kiss it, my warrior:—he hath fought to-day 
As if a god, in hate of mankind, had 


Scene §.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


139 


Destroyed in such a shape. 

Cleo. I ’ll give thee, friend, 

An armour all of gold; it was a king’s. 

Ant He has deserved it, were it carbuncled 
Like holy Phoebus’ car.—Give me thy hand : 
Through Alexandria make a jolly march ; 30 

Bear our hacked targets like the men that owe 
them. 

Had our great palace the capacity 

To camp this host, we all would sup together, 

And drink carouses to the next day’s fate, 

Which promises royal peril.—Trumpeters, 

With brazen din blast you the city’s ear: 

Make mingle with our rattling tabourines, 

That heaven and earth may strike their sounds ta 
gether, 

Applauding our approach. [. ExeurU\ 


Scene IX.— Caesar’s Camp. 

Sentinels on their Post. 

1 Sold. If we be not relieved within this hour 
We must return to the court of guard. The night 
Is shiny and they say we shall embattle 
By the second hour i’ the morn. 



140 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


fAct IV. 


2 Sold. This last day was 

A shrewd one to us. 

Enter E no barbus. 

Eno. O, bear me witness, night,— 

3 Sold. What man is this 1 

2 Sold. Stand close, and list him. 

Eno. Be witness to me, 0 thou blessed moon, 

When men revolted shall upon record 
Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did 
Before thy face repent!— 

1 Sold. Enobarbus! 

3 Sold. Peace f 

Hark further. 11 

Eno. O sovereign mistress of true melancholy, 
The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me, 
That life, a very rebel to my will, 

May hang no longer on me: throw my heart 
Against the flint and hardness of my fault, 

Which, being dried with grief, will break to 
powder, 

And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony, 

Nobler than my revolt is infamous, 

Forgive me in thine own particular; 

But let the world rank me in register 
A mf ite* eaver and a fugitive. 


20 


Scene 10.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


141 


0 Antony ! O Antony ! [Dies. 

2 Sold. Let’s speak to him. 

1 Sold. Let’s * hear him ; for the things he 
speaks 

May concern Caesar. 

3 Sold. Let*s do so. But he sleeps. 

1 Sold. Swoons rather ; for so bad a prayer as 

his 

Was never yet for sleep. 

2 Sold. Go we to him. 29 

3 Sold. Awake, sir, awake ! speak to us. 

2 Sold. Hear you, sir f 

1 Sold. The hand of death hath raught him. 

[Drums afar off.] Hark! the drums 
Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him 
To the court of guard ; he is of note : our hour 
Is fully out. 

3 Sold. Come on then; 

He may recover yet. [Exeunt with the body. 


Scene X.—Between the two Camps. 

Enter Antony and Scarus, with Forces , marching. 

Ant. Their preparation is to-day by sea: 

We please them not by land. 



142 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IV. 


Scar. For both, my lord. 

Ant. I would, they’d fight i’ the fire, or i’ the 
air; 

We’d fight there too. But this it is : our foot 

Upon the hills adjoining to the city 

Shall stay with us : order for sea is given ; 

They have put forth the haven : forward, now, 
Where their appointment we may best discover, 
And look on their endeavour. [Exeunt. 

Enter Uesar and his Forces , marching. 

Cces. But being charged, we will be still by land, 
Which, as I take’t, we shall; for his best force ll 
Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales, 

And hold our best advantage ! [Exeunt. 

Re enter Antony and Scarus. 

Ant. Yet they are not joined. Where yond pine 
does stand, 

I shall discover all: I ’ll bring thee word 
Straight, how ’t is like to go. [Exit. 

Scar. Swallows have built 

In Cleopatra’s sails their nests : the auguries 
Say, they know not.—they cannot tell;—look 
grimly 

And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


143 


Is valiant, and dejected ; and, by starts, 20 

His fretted fortunes give him hope, and fear, 

Of what he has, and has not. 

[Alarum afar off] as at a sea-fight. 

Re-enter Antony. 

Ant All is lost! 

This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me : 

My fleet hath yielded to the foe ; and yonder 
They cast their caps up, and carouse together 
Like friends long lost.—Triple-turned whore’t is 
thou 

Hast sold me to this novice, and my heart 
Makes only wars on thee.—Bid them all fly; 

For when I q*m revenged upon my charm, 

I have done all. Bid them all fly; be gone. 30 

[Exit ScAKua 

O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more: 

Fortune and Antony part here; even here 
Do we shake hands.—All come to this?—The 
hearts 

That spanieled me at heels, to whom I gave 
Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets 
On blossoming Csesar; and this pine is barked 
That overtopped them all. Betrayed I am. 

O this f4lse soul of Egypt! this grave charm,—- 


144 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act rvr. 


Whose eye becked forth my wars, and called them 
home, 

Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,— 
Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose, 41 
Beguiled me to the very heart of loss.— 

What, Eros ! Eros! 

Enter Cleopatra 

Ah, thou spell! Avaunt! 
Cleo. Why is my lord enraged against his love 1 
Ant. Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving, 
And blemish Caesar's triumph. Let him take 
thee, 

And hoist*thee up to the shouting pl4beians: 

Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot 

Of all thy sex ; most monster-like, be shown 

For poor’st diminutives, for doits; and let 50 

Patient Octavia plough thy visage up 

With her prepared nails. \Exit Cleopatra. 

'T is well thou ’rt gone, 

If it be well to live; but better’t were 
Thou fell’st into my fury, for one death 
Might have prevented many.—Eros, ho!— 

The shirt of Nessus is upon me : teach me, 
Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage: 

Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o’ the moon ; 


Scene 11.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


145 


And with those hands, that grasped the heaviest 
club. 59 

Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die: 
To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I 
fall 

Under this plot; she dies for’t.—Eros, ho ! \ExiU 


Scene XL—Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra’s 

Palace. 

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian. 

Cleo. Help me, my women ! O ! he is more mad 
Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly 
Was never so embossed. 

Char . To the monument! 

There lock yourself, and send him word you are 
dead. 

The soul and body rive not more in parting, 

Than greatness going off. 

Cleo. To the monument!— 

Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself; 

Say, that the last I spoke was, Antony, 

And word it, pr’ythee, piteously. Hence, 
Mardian, and bring me how he takes my death. 

To the monument I \ExeunL 



ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IV. 


146 


Scene XII.—Another Room in the Palaca 
Enter Antony and Eros. 

A nt. Eros, thou yet behold’st me 1 
Eros. Ay, noble lord. 

Ant. Sometime, we see a cloud that’s dragonish, 
A vapour, sometime like a bear, or lion, 

A towered citadel, a pendant rock, 

A forked mountain, or blue promontory 
With trees upon’t, that nod unto the world, 

And mock our eyes with air : thou hast seen these 
signs; 

They are black vesper’s pageants. 

Eros. Ay, my lord. 

Ant. That which is now a horse, even with a 
thought 

The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct, 10 
As water is in water. 

Eros. It does, my lord. 

Ant. My good knave, Eros, now thy captain is 
Even such a body : here I am Antony; 

Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. 

I made these wars for Egypt: and the queen.— 
Whose heart, I thought, I had, for she had mine, 
Which, whilst it was mine, had annexed unto’t 


Scene 12.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


147 


A million moe, now lost,—she, Eros, has 
Packed cards with Caesar, and false-played my glory 
Unto an enemy’s triumph.— 20 

Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us 
Ourselves to end ourselves. 

Enter Mardian. 

O, thy vile lady! 

She has robbed me of my sword. 

Mar. No, Antony; 

My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled 
With thine entirely. 

Ant. Hence, saucy eunuch : peace ! 

She hath betrayed me, and shall die the death. 

Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once, 
And that she has discharged. What thou wouldst 
do, 

Is done unto thy hand : the last she spake 
Was, ‘ Antony ! most noble Antony ! ’ 30 

Then in the midst a tearing groan did break 
The name of Antony ; it was divided 
Between her heart and lips. She rendered life, 
Thy name so buried in her. 

Ant. Dead then ? 

Mar. Dead. 

Ant. Unarm, Eros : the long day’s task is done, 


1 48 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IV. 


And we must sleep.—That thou depart’st hence 
safe, 

Does pay thy labour richly; go. [Exit Mardian. 
—Off, pluck off:— 

The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep 
The battery from my heart. 0, cleave, my sides! 
Heart, once be stronger than thy continent. 40 
Crack thy frail case !—Apace, Eros, apace.— 

No more a soldier :—bruised pieces, go; 

You have been nobly borne.—From me awhile— 
[Exit Eros.] 

I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and 

Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now 

All length is torture : since the torch is out, 

Lie down, and stray no farther. Now all labour 
Mars what it does : yea, very force entangles 
Itself with strength : seal then, and all is done.— 
Eros !—I come, my queen.—Eros!—Stay for me: 
Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in 
hand, 51 

And with our spritely port make the ghosts gaze ; 
Dido and her iEneas shall want troops, 

And all the haunt be ours.—Come, Eros ! Eros> 

Re-enter Eros. 

Eros. What would my lord ? 


Scene 12.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


149 


Ant. Since Cleopatra died, 

I have lived in such dishonour, that the gods 
Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword 
Quartered the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back 
With ships made cities, condemn myself, to lack 
The courage of a woman ; less noble mind 60 
Than she, which by her death our Csesar tells, 

* I am conqueror of myself.’ Thou art sworn, Eros* 
That when the exigent should come,—which now 
Is come, indeed,—when I should see behind me 
The inevitable prosecution of 
Disgrace and horror, that on my command 
Thou then wouldst kill me : do’t; the time is come. 
Thou strik’st not me, ’t is Csesar thou defeat’st. 

Put colour in thy cheek. 

Bros. The gods withhold me t 

Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, 70 
Though enemy, lost aim, and could not 1 

Ant. Eros, 

Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome, and see 
Thy master thus with pleached arms, bending down 
His corrigible neck, his face subdued 
To penetrative shame, whilst the wheeled seat 
Of fortunate Csesar, drawn before him, branded 
His baseness that ensued. 

Eros . 


J would not see’t 


150 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IV. 


A nt. Come then; for with a wound I must be 


cured. 


Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn 
Most useful for thy country. 


0, sir, pardon me. 


Eros. 


Ant. When I did make thee free, swor’st thou 


not then 


81 


To do this when I bade thee 1 Do it at once, 

Or thy precedent services are all 

But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come. 

Eros. Turn from me then that noble coun¬ 
tenance, 

Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. 

Ant. Lo thee ! [ Turning from him . 

Eros. My sword is drawn. 

Ant. Then let it do at once 

The thing why thou hast drawn it. 

Eros. My dear master. 

My captain, and my emperor, let me say, 90 

Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell 
Ant. ’T is said, man; and farewell. 

Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? 
Ant. Now, Eros. 

Eros. Why, there then:—[ falls on his sword. 
—thus I do escape the sorrow 
Of Antony’s death. [Dies. 


8ceiie 12.1 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


151 


Ant. Thrice-nobler than myself! 

Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what 
I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and 
Eros 

Have, by their brave instruction, got upon me 
A nobleness in record : but I will be 
A bridegroom in my death, and run into’t 100 
As to a lover’s bed. Come then ; and, Eros, 

Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thus 

\Falling on his sword. 
I learned of thee.—How ! not dead 1 not dead 1 — 
The guard, ho 1—O, despatch me! 

Enter Dercetas and Guard. 

1 Guard. What’s the noise f 

Ant. I have done my work ill, friends : O, make 

an end 

Of what I have begun. 

2 Guard. The star is fallen. 

1 Guard. And time is at his period. 

All. Alas, and woe 1 

Ant. Let him that loves me strike me dead. 

1 Guard. Not I. 

2 Guard. Nor I. 109 

3 Guard. Nor any one. \Exeunt Guard. 

Der Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. 


152 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IV. 


This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, 
Shall enter me with him. 

Enter Diomedes. 

Dio. Where’s Antony. 

Der. There, Diomed, there. 

Dio. Lives he ? 

Wilt thou not answer, man ? [Exit Dercetas. 

Ant. Art thou there, Diomed ? Draw thy 
sword, and give me 
Sufficient strokes for death. 

Dio. Most absolute lord. 

My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee. 

Ant. When did she send thee? 

Dio. Now, my lord. 

Ant. Where is she ? 

Dio. Locked in her monument. She had a 
prophesying fear 120 

Of what hath come to pass ; for when she saw— 
Which never shall be found—you did suspect 
She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage 
Would not be purged, she sent you word she was 
dead; 

But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent 
Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come, 

I dread, too late. 


Scene 12.] ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, 153 

Ant. Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I 
pr’ythee. 

Dio. What, ho ! the emperor’s guard ! The 
guard, what ho 1 

dome; your lord calls. 130 

Enter some of the Guard. 

Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra 
bides : 

*T is the last service that I shall command you. 

1 Guard. Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not 
live to wear 

All your true followers out. 

All. Most heavy day ! 

Ant. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp 
fate 

To grace it with your sorrows : bid that welcome 

Which comes to punish us, and we punish it 

Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up: 

I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends, 

And have my thanks for all. 140 

[Exeunt, hearing Antony. 


154 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


| Act IV. 


Scene XIII.—The Same. A Monument 
Enter , above, Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras. 

Cleo. O Charmian ! I will never go from hence. 
Char . Be comforted, dear madam. 

Cleo. No, I will not 

All strange and terrible events are welcome, 

But comforts we despise : our size of sorrow, 
Proportioned to our cause, must be as great 
As that which makes it. 

Enter , below , Diomedes. 

How now ? is he dead ? 
Dio. His death’s upon him, but not dead. 

Look out o’ the other side your monument; 

His guard have brought him thither. 

Enter , below , Antony, borne by the Guard. 
Cleo. 0 sun, 10 

Burn the great sphere thou rnov’st in !—darkling 
stand 

The varying shore o’ the world. O Antony, 
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, 
help : 

Help, friends below; let’s draw him hither. 

Ant. 


Peace 1 


Scene 13.3 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


155 


Not Caesar’s valour hath o’erthrown Antony, 

But Antony’s hath triumphed on itself. 

Cleo. So it should be, that none but Antony 
Should conquer Antony; but woe’t is so ! 

Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only 
I here importune death awhile, until 20 

Of many thousand kisses the poor last 
1 lay upon thy lips. 

Cleo. I dare not, dear,— 

Dear, my lord, pardon,—I dare not, 

Lest I be taken : not the imperious show 
Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall 
Be brooched with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, 
have 

Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe: 

Your wife, Octavia, with her modest eyes 
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour 29 
Demuring upon me.—But come, come, Antony,^ 
Help me, my women,—we must draw thee up,— 
Assist, good friends. 

Ant. O, quick, or I am gone. 

Cleo. Here’s sport, indeed !—How heavy weighs 
my lord ! 

Our strength is all gone into heaviness, 

That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s 
power, 


156 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act IV 


The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up, 
And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little,— 
Wishers were ever fools.—O ! come, come, come; 

[They draw Antony up. 
And welcome, welcome ! die, where thou hast 
lived : 

Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power, 40 
Thus would I wear them out. 

All. A heavy sight! 

Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying. 

Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. 

Cleo. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, 
That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, 
Provoked by my offence. 

Ant. One word, sweet queen. 

Of Caesar seek your honour with your safety.—0 i 
Cleo. They do not go together. 

Ant. Gentle, hear me; 

None about Caesar trust, but Proculeius. 

Cleo. My resolution, and my hands, I ’ll trust; 
None about Caesar. 51 

Ant. The miserable change now at my end 
Lament nor sorrow at; but please your thoughts 
In feeding them with those my former fortunes 
Wherein I lived, the greatest prince o’ the world, 
The noblest; and do now not basely die, 


(Scene 13.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


157 


Not cowardly put off my helmet to 
My countryman, a Roman by a Roman 
Valiantly vanquished. Now, my spirit is going ; 

I can no more. 

Cleo. Noblest of men, woo’t die ? 60 

Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide 
In this dull world, which in thy absence is 
No better than a sty?—O ! see, my women, 

[Antony died. 

The crown o’ the earth doth melt.—My lord !— 

O, withered is the garland of the war, 

The soldier’s pole is fallen : young boys and girte 
Are level now with men; the odds is gone, 

And there is nothing left remarkable 
Beneath the visiting moon. 

Char . O, quietness, lady ! 

Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign. 

Char. Lady!— 

Iras. Madam I 

Char. O madam, madam, madam ! 

Iras. Royal Egypt I 

Empress! 72 

Char. Peace, peace, Iras ! 

Cleo. No more, but e’en a woman ; and com¬ 
manded 

By such poor passion as the maid that milks, 


158 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


{Act IV. 


And does the meanest chares. It were for me 
To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods; 

To tell them, that this world did equal theirs, 

Till they had stolen our jewel. All’s but naught; 
Patience is sottish, and impatience does 80 

Become a dog that’s mad : then is it sin, 

To rush into the secret house of death, 

Ere death dare come to us 1 —How do you, 
women ? 

What, what ! good cheer ! Why, how now, 
Charmian ? 

My noble girls !—Ah, women, women ! look, 

Our lamp is spent, it’s out.—Good sirs, take 
heart: 

We’ll bury him; and then, what’s brave, what’s 
noble, 

Let’s do it after the high Roman fashion, 

And make death proud to take us. Come, away: 
This case of that huge spirit now is cold. 90 

Ah, women, women ! Come ; we have no friend 
But resolution, and the briefest end. 

[Exeunt; those above bearing of 
Antony’s body . 


Beane l.j 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


159 


ACT V. 

Scene I. — Caesar's Camp before Alexandria. 

Enter Cesar, Agrippa, Dolabella, Mecenas, 
Gallus, Proculeius, and others. 

Coes. Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield ; 
Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks 
The pauses that he makes. 

Dol. Caesar, I shall. [Exit. 

Enter Dercetas, with the sword of Antony. 

Coes. Wherefore is that 1 and what art thou, 
that dar’st 
Appear thus to us 1 

Der. I am called Dercetas 

Mark Antony I served, who best was worthy 
Best to be served : whilst he stood up, and spoke, 
He was my master; and I wore my life, 

To spend upon his haters. If thou please 
To take me to thee, as I was to him 10 

I ’ll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not, 

I yield thee up my life. 

Coes. What is’t thou sa/st I 

Der. I say, 0 Caesar, Antony is dead. 


160 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act V. 


Coes. The breaking of so great a thing should 
make 

A greater crack : the round world should have 
shook 

Lions into civil streets, and citizens 
Into their dens. The death of Antony 
Is not a single doom; in the name lay 
A moiety of the world. 

Der. He is dead, Caesar, 

Not by a public minister of justice, 20 

Nor by a hir6d knife; but that self hand, 

Which writ his honour in the acts it did, 

Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, 
Split ted the heart. This is his sword ; 

I robbed his wound of it: behold it stained 
With liis most noble blood. 

Coes. Look you sad, friends ? 

The gods rebuke me, but it is a tidings 
To wash the eyes of kings. 

Agr. And strange it is, 

That nature must compel us to lament 
Our most persisted deeds. 

Mec. His taints and honours 30 

Waged equal with him. 

Agr. A rarer spirit never 

Did steer humanity ; but you, gods, will give ua 


Scene 1.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


161 


Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touched. 
Mec. When such a spacious mirror’s set before 
him, 

He needs must see himself. 

Cces. O Antony ! 

I have followed thee to this :—but we do lance 
Diseases in our bodies : I must perforce 
Have shown to thee such a declining day, 

Or look on thine: we could not stall together 
In the whole world. But yet let me lament 40 
With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, 

That thou, my brother, my competitor 
In top of all design, my mate in empire, 

Friend and companion in the front of war, 

The arm of mine own body, and the heart 
Where mine his thoughts did kindle, that our stars, 
Unreconcileable, should divide 
Our equalness to this.—Hear me, good friends,— 

Enter a Messenger. 

But I will tell you at some meeter season : 

The business of this man looks out of him; ,50 

We ’ll hear him what he says.—Whence are you I 
Mess. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my 
mistress 

Confined in all she has, her monument, 
f —178 


162 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


[Act Y. 


Of thy intents desires instruction, 

That she preparedly may frame herself 
To the way she’s forced to. 

Cons. Bid her have good heart: 

She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, 

How honourable and how kindly we 
Determine for her ; Csesar cannot learn 
To be ungentle. 60 

Mess. So the gods preserve thee. [ExiL 

Coes. Come hither, Proculeius. Go, and say, 

We purpose her no shame : give her what comforts 
The quality of her passion shall require, 

Lest in her greatness by some mortal stroke 
She do defeat us; for her life in Rome 
Would be eternal in our triumph. Go, 

And with your speediest bring us what she says, 
And how you find of her. 

Pro. Csesar, I shalL [ExiL 

Coes. Gallus, go you along. [Exit Gallus.] 
—Where’s Dolabella, 70 

To second Proculeius 1 

Agr., Mec. Dolabella 1 

Coes. Let him alone, for I remember now 
How he’s employed : he shall in time be ready. 

Go with me to my tent: where you shall see 
How hardly I was drawn into this war ; 


Scene 2.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


163 


How calm and gentle I proceeded still 
In all my writings. Go with me and see 
What I can show in this. 


[Exeunt* 


Scene II.— Alexandria. The Monument 
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras. 

Cleo. My desolation does begin to make 
A better life. ’T is paltry to be Caesar : 

Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave, 

A minister of her will ; and it is great 
To do that thing that ends all other deeds, 

Which shackles accidents, and bolts up change ; 
Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung, 

The beggar’s nurse and Caesar’s. 

Enter Proculeius, Gallus, and Soldiers. 

Pro. Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt: 
And bids thee study on what fair demands 10 
Thou rnean’st to have him grant thee. 

Cleo. What’s thy name ! 

Pro. My name is Proculeius. 

Cleo. Antony 

Did tell me of you, bade me trust you ; but 



164 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. iAofc 7. 

I do not greatly care to be deceived, 

That have no use for trusting. If your master 
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell 
him, 

That majesty, to keep decorum, must 
No less beg than a kingdom: if he please 
To give me conquered Egypt for my son, 

He gives me so much of mine own as I 20 

Will kneel to him with thanks. 

Pro. Be of good cheer; 

You are fallen into a princely hand, fear nothing, 
Make your full reference freely to my lord, 

Who is so full of grace that it Hows over 
On all that need. Let me report to him 
Your sweet dependency, and you shall find 
A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness 
Where he for grace is kneeled to. 

Cleo. Bray you, tell him 

I am his fortune’s vassal, and I send him 
The greatness he has got. I hourly learn 30 
A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly 
Look him i’ the face. 

Pro. This I ’ll report, dear lady. 

Have comfort; for I know your plight is pitied 
Of him that caused it. 

Gal. You see how easily she may be surprised. 


Scene 8.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


165 


[Proculeius, and two of the Guard, ascend the 
monument by a ladder , and come behind 
Cleopatra. Some of the Guard unbar and 
open the gates. 

[To Proculeius and the Guard.] Guard her till 
Csesar come. t [Exit. 

Iras. Royal queen! 

Char. O Cleopatra, thou art taken, queen !— 
Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands. 

[Drawing a dagger. 
Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold ! 

[Seizes and disarms her. 
Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this 40 
Relieved, but not betrayed. 

Cleo . What, of death too, 

That rids our dogs of languish 1 

Pro. Cleopatra, 

Do not abuse my master’s bounty by 
The undoing of yourself: let the world see 
His nobleness well acted, which your death 
Will never let come forth. 

Clec. Where art thou, death ? 

Come hither, come ! come, come, and take a queen 
Worth many babes and beggars! 

Pro. O, temperance, lady ! 

Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat. I ’ll not drink, sir; 


166 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act V. 


If idle talk will once be necessary, 50 

I 'll not sleep, neither. This mortal house I 'll ruin. 
Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I 
Will not wait pinioned at your master's court, 

Nor once be chastised with the sober eye 
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up,- 
And show me to the shouting varletry 
Of censuring Rome ? Rather a ditch in Egypt 
Be gentle grave to me ! rather on Nilus’ mud 
Lay me stark nak’d, and let the water-flies 
Blow me into abhorring ! rather make 60 

My country’s high pyramides my gibbet, 

And hang me up in chains 1 

Pro. You do extend 

These thoughts of horror further than you shall. 
Find cause in Caesar. 

Enter Dolabella. 

Dol. Proculeius, 

What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, 
And he hath sent me for thee : for the queen, 

I ’ll take her to my guard. 

Pro. So, Dolabella, 

It shall content me best: be gentle to her. 

[To Cleopatra.] To Caesar I will speak what yon 
shall please, 


Scene 2.1 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


167 


If you ’ll employ me to him. 

Cleo. Say I would die. 70 

[.Exeunt Proculeius and Soldiers. 
Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me ? 
Cleo. I cannot tell. 

Dol. Assuredly, you know me. 

Cleo. No matter, sir, what I have heard or 
known. 

You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; 
Is’t not your trick? 

Dol. I understand not, madam. 

Cleo. I dreamt, there was an emperor Antony : 
O, such another sleep, that I might see 
But such another man ! 

Dol. If it might please ye,— 

Cleo. His face was as the heavens, and therein 
stuck 

A sun and moon, which kept their course, and 
lighted 80 

The little 0, the earth. 

Dol. Most sovereign creature,— 

Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean ; his reared arm 
Crested the world ; his voice was propertied 
As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; 

But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, 

He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, 


168 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA. 


{Act?. 


There was no winter in ’t; an autumn't was, 

That grew the more by reaping : his delights 
Were dolphin-like; they showed his back above 
The element they lived in: in his livery 90 

Walked crowns and crownets; realms and island® 
were 

As plates dropped from his pocket. 

Dol. Cleopatra,— 

Cleo. Think you there was, or might be, such a 
man 

As this I dreamt of 1 

Dol. Gentle madam, no. 

Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the goda. 

But, if there be', or ever were, one such, 

It’s past the size of dreaming : nature wants stuff 
To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine 
An Antony, were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy, 99 
Condemning shadows quite. 

Dol. Hear me, good madam. 

Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it 
As answering to the weight: would I might neves 
O’ertake pursued success, but I do feel, 

By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites 
My very heart at root. 

Cleo. I thank you, sir. 

Know you what Caesar means to do with me ? 


Soene 2.J ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 16# 

Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you 
knew. 

Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,— 

Dol. Though he be honourable,— 

Cleo. He ’ll lead me then in triumph ? 

Dol. Madam, he will; I know’t. 

[ Within.] Make way there !—Caesar 1 

Enter C^sar, Gallus, Proculeius, Meoenas, 
Seleucus, and Attendants. 

Coes. Which is the Queen of Egypt 1 ill 

Dol. It is the emperor, madam. 

[Cleopatra kneels. 
Coes. Arise, you shall not kneel: 

I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt 

Cleo. Sir, the gods 

Will have it thus : my master and my lord 
I must obey. 

Coes. Take to you no hard thoughts : 

The record of what injuries you did us, 

Though written in our flesh, we shall remember 
As things but done by chance. 

Cleo. Sole sir o’ the world 

I cannot project mine own cause so well 120 

To make it clear; but do confess, I have 
Been laden with like frailties which before 


170 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act T. 


Have often shamed our sex. 

Ccbs. Cleopatra, know, 

We will extenuate rather than enforce : 

If you apply yourself to our intents— 

Which towards you are most gentle—you shall 
find 

A benefit in this change ; but if you seek 
To lay on me a cruelty, by taking 
Antony’s course, you shall bereave yourself 
Of my good purposes, and put your children 130 
To that destruction which I ’ll guard them from, 

If thereon you rely. I ’ll take my leave. 

Cleo. And may through all the world: ’t ia 
yours; and we, 

Your scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall. 
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good 
lord. 

Coes. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. 
Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, am? 
jewels, 

I am possessed of: ’t is exactly valued; 

Not petty things admitted.—Where’s Seleucus? 
Sel. Here, madam. 140 

Cleo. This is my treasurer: let him speak, my 
lord, 

Upon his peril, that I have reserved 


Scene 2.J 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


171 


To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. 

Sel. Madam, 

I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, 

Speak that which is not. 

Cleo. What have I kept back ] 

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made 
known. 

Ctzs. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve 
our wisdom in the deed. 

Cleo. See, Csesar, 0, behold, 

How pomp is followed ! mine will now be yours; 
.And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. 
The ingratitude oi this Seleucus does 152 

Even make me wild.—0 slave, of no more trust 
Than love that’s hired !—What, goest thou back 1 
thou shalt 

3r0 back, I warrant thee ; but I ’ll catch thine eyes. 
Though they had wings. Slave, soulless villain 
dog! 

0 rarely base! 

Cces. Good queen, let us entreat you. 

Cleo. O Csesar, what a wounding shame is this, 
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, 

Doing the honour of thy lordliness 160 

To one so meek, that mine own servant should 
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by 


172 ANTONY AND CLEOPATEA. [Act ▼, 

Addition of his envy ! Say, good Caesar, 

That I some lady trifles have reserved, 

Immoment toys, things of such dignity 
As we greet modern friends withal; and say, 

Some nobler tokens I have kept apart 
For Livia, and Octavia, to induce 
Their mediation ; must I be unfolded 
With one that I have bred 1 The gods ! it smitea 
me 170 

Beneath the fall I have. [To Seleucus.] Pr’ythee, 
go hence; 

Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits 
Through the ashes of my chance.—Wert thou a 
man, 

Thou wouldst have mercy on me. 

Coes. Forbear, Seleucus. 

[Exit Seleucus. 

Cleo. Be it known that we, the greatest, are 
misthought 

For things that others do; and, when we fall, 

We answer others’ merits in our name, 

Are therefore to be pitied. 

Ccbs. Cleopatra, 

Not what you have reserved, nor what acknow¬ 
ledged, 179 

Put we i’ the roll of conquest: still be it yours. 


Beene 9.] 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


173 


Bestow it at your pleasure ; and believe, 

Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you 
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be 
cheered; 

Make not your thoughts your prisons : no, dear 
queen; 

For we intend so to dispose you, as 

Yourself shall give us counsel Feed, and sleep t 

Our care and pity is so much upon you, 

That we remain your friend ; and so, adieu. 

Cleo. My master, and my lord ! 

Cces. Not so. Adieu. 

[Flourish . Exeunt Caesar and his Train. 
Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I 
should not 190 

K 

Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian. 

[ Whisper8 Charmian. 
Iras. Finish, good lady ; the bright day is done, 
And we are for the dark. 

Cleo. Hie thee again: 

I have spoke already, and it is provided; 

Go, put it to the haste. 

Char . Madam, I will 

Re-enter Dolabella. 

Dol. Where is the queen 1 


174 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


[Act ? 


Cliar. 

Cleo. 


Behold, sir. [ Exit. 

Dolabella \ 


Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, 
Which my love makes religion to obey, 

I tell you this :—Caesar through Syria 

Intends his journey, and within three days 200 

You with your children will he send before. 

Make your best use of this; I have performed 
Your pleasure, and my promise. 

Cleo. Dolabella, . 

I shall remain your debtor. 

Dol, I your servant.. 

Adieu, good queen ; I must attend on Caesar. 

Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. [Exit Dolabella. 


Now, Iras, what think’st thou f 


Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown 
In Borne, as well as I: mechanic slaves 
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall 
Uplift us to the view : in their thick breaths, 210 
Bank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, 

And forced to drink their vapour. 

Iras. The gods forbid ! 

Cleo. Nay, ’t is most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors 
Will catch at us, like strumpets ; and scald rhymers 
Ballad us out o’ tune : the quick comedians 
Extemporally will stage us, and present 


Scene 2.) ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 175 

Our Alexandrian revels. Antony 
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see 
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness 
1’ the posture of a whore. 

Iras. O, the good gods ! 220 

Cleo. Nay, that is certain. 

Iras. I ’ll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails 
Are stronger than mine eyes. 

Cleo. Why, that's the way 

To fool their preparation, and to conquer 
Their most absurd intents. 

Re-enter Charmian. 

Now, Charmian 1 — 

Show me, my women, like a queen :— go fetch 
My best attires ;—I am again for Cydnus, 

To meet Mark Antony.—Sirrah, Iras, go.— 

Now, noble Charmian, we 'll despatch indeed; 

And, when thou hast done this chare, I ’ll give thee 
leave 230 

To play till doomsday.—Bring our crown and alL 
[Exit Iras. A noise within. 
Wherefore's this noise 1 

Enter one of the Guard. 

Here is a rural fellow, 


Guard. 


176 


ANTONV AND CLEOPATRA. 


(Act V. 


That will not be denied your highness’ presence : 
He brings you figs. 

Cleo. Let him come in. [Exit Guard.] What 
poor an instrument 

May do a noble deed ! he brings me liberty. 

My resolution’s placed, and I have nothing 
Of woman in me : now from head to foot 
I am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon 
No planet is of mine. 

Re-enter Guard , with a Clown bringing in a basket. 

Guard. This is the man. 240 

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. 

Hast thou the pretty worm of Nil us there, 

That kills and pains not ? 

Clown. Truly I have him; but I would not be 
the party that should desire you to touch him, for 
his biting is immortal: those that do die of it do 
seldom or never recover. 

Cleo. Remember’st thou any that have died on’t 1 
Clown. Very many, men and women too. I 
heard of one of them no longer than yesterday : a 
very honest woman, but something given to lie, as 
a woman should not do but in the way of honesty : 
how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt. 
—Truly, she makes a very good report o’ the worm; 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


177 


but he that will believe all that they say, shall 
never be saved by half that they do. But this is 
most fallible, the worm’s an odd worm. 

Cleo. Get thee hence : farewell. 260 

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. 

down the basket. 

Cleo. Farewell. 

Clown. You must think this, look you, that the 
worm will do his kind. 

Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell. 

Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted 
but in the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, 
there is no goodness in the worm. 

Cleo. Take thou no care: it shall be heeded. 

Clown. Yery good. Give it nothing, I pray you* 
for it is not worth the feeding. 

Cleo. Will it eat me 1 270 

Clown. You must not think I am so simple, but 
I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: I 
I know that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the 
devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whore¬ 
son devils do the gods great harm in their women, 
for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five. 

Cleo. Well, get thee gone : farewelL 

Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the 
worm. [Exit, 


178 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act V, 


Re-enter Iras, with a robe, crown , <fcc. 

Cleo . Give me my robe, put on my crown; I 
have 280 

Immortal longings in me. Now, no more 
The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip.— 
Yare, yare, good Iras! quick.—Methinks, I hear 
Antony call : I see him rouse himself 
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock 
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men 
To excuse their after-wrath. Husband, I come : 
Now to that name my courage prove my title ! 

I am fire and air \ my other elements 
I give to baser life.—So,—have you done 1 290 

Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. 
Farewell, kind Charmian :—Iras, long farewell. 

[Kisses them, Iras falls and die a 
Have I the aspic in my lips 1 Dost fall 1 
If thou and nature can so gently part, 

The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, 

Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou lie still 1 
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell’st the world 
It is not worth leave-taking. 

Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that 1 
may say, 

The gods themselves do weep. 


Scene 2.J 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, 


179 


Cleo. This proves me base : 300 

If she first meet the curled Antony, 

He ’ll make demand of her, and spend that kiss, 
Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal 
wretch. 

[To the asp , which she applies to her hr east. 
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate 
Of life at once untie : poor venomous fool, 

Be angry, and despatch. O, couldst thou speak. 
That I might hear thee call great Caesar, ass 
Unpolicied ! 

Char. O eastern star ! 

Cleo. Peace, peace ! 

Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, 

That sucks the nurse asleep 1 

Char. O, break ! 0, break ! 310 

Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,— 
O Antony!—Nay, I will take thee too. 

[Applying another asp to her arm. 
What should I stay— [Falls on a bed and dies. 

Char. In this vile world ?—So, fare thee well.— 
Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies 
A lass unparalleled.—Downy windows, close; 

And golden Phoebus never be beheld 

Of eyes again so royal! Your crown’s awry ; 

I ’ll mend it, and then play. 


180 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


[Act V. 


Enter the Guard , rushing in. 

1 Guard. Where is the queen ? 

Char. Speak softly; wake her not 

1 Guard. Csesar hath sent— 

Char. Too slow a messenger. 

[Applies the asp. 

O ! come; apace; despatch : I partly feel thee. 322 

1 Guard. Approach, ho 1 All’s not well : 

Csesar’s beguiled. 

2 Guard. There’s Dolabella sent from Csesar : 

call him. 

1 Guard. What work is here?—Charmian, is 
this well done ? 

Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess 
Descended of so many royal kings. 

Ah, soldier ! [Dies. 


Re-enter Dolabella. 

Dol. How goes it here 1 
2 Guard. All dead. 

Dol. Csesar, thy thoughts 

Touch their effects in this : thyself art coming 330 
To see performed the dreaded act, which thou 
Bo sought ’st to hinder. 

[Within.] A way there ! a way for L«esarJ 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. 


181 


Re-enter Caesar and all his Train. 

Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer : 

That you did fear, is done. 

Coes. Bravest at the last: 

She levelled at our purposes, and, being royal, 

Took her own way.—The manner of their deaths 1 
I do not see them bleed. 

Dol. Who was last witli them ? 

1 Guard. A simple countryman that brought 
her figs: 

This was his basket. 

Gees. Poisoned then. 

*1 Guard. O Caesar! 

This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake : 
I found her trimming up the diadem 341 

On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood, 

And on the sudden dropped. 

Cces. 0 noble weakness 1— 

If they had swallowed poison, *t would appear 
By external swelling; but she looks like sleep, 

As she would catch another Antony 
In her strong toil of grace. 

Dol. Here, on her breast, 

There is a vent of blood, and something blown: 

The like is on her arm. 


182 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATBA. 


[Act V. 


1 Guard. This is an aspic’s trail; and these fig- 


leaves 


350 


Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves 
Upon the caves of Nile. 


Ccbs. 


Most probable, 


That so she died ; for her physician tells me, 

She hath pursued conclusions infinite 
Of easy ways to die.—Take up her bed, 

And bear her women from the monument. 

She shall be buried by her Antony: 

No grave upon the earth shall clip in it 
A pair so famous. High events as these 
Strike those that make them ; and their story is 
No less in pity than his glory which 361 

Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall 
In solemn show attend this funeral, 

And then to Home.—Come, Dolabella, see 
High or^er in this great solemnity. 



PASSAGES FROM THB 


LIFE OF MARCUS ANTONIUS IN 
NORTH’S “PLUTARCH.” 


When Pompeys house was put to open sale, Antoni us bought 
it: but when they asked him money for it, he made it very 
strange, and was offended with them, and writeth himselfe 
that he would not go with Caesar into the warres of Africke, 
because he was not well recompenced for the seruice he had 
done him before. Yet Caesar did somewhat bridle his mad- 
nesse and insolency, not suffering him to pass his faults so 
lightly away, making as though he saw them not. And there¬ 
fore he left his dissolute maner of life, and married Fuluia 
that was Clodius widow, a woman not so basely minded to 
spend her time in spinning and housewivery, and was not 
contented to maister her husband at home, but would also rule 
him in his office abroad, and commaunded him, that com- 
maunded legions and great armies : so that Cleopatra was to 
giue Fuluia thankes for that she had taught Antonius this 
obedience to women, that learned so well to be at their 
commaundement. [Afterwards in the time of the Trium¬ 
virate]. . . . Antonius being thus inclined, the last and ex- 
treamest mischiefe of all other (to wit, the loue of Cleopatra) 
lighted on him, who did waken and stir vp many vices yet 
hidden in him, and were neuer seene to any : and if any sparke 
of goodnesse or hope of rising were left him, Cleopatra 
quenched it straight and made it worse then before. The 
manner how he fell in loue with her was this. Antonius going 
to make war with the Parthians, sent to commaund Cleopatra 
to appeare personally before him when he came into Cilicia, to 
answer vnto such accusations as were laid against her, being 
this: that she had aided Cassius and Brutus in their warre 
against him. The messenger sent vnto Cleopatra to make this 
summons vnto her, was called Dellius: who when he had 
thoroughly considered her beautie, the excellent grace and 
sweetnesse of her toung, he nothing mistrusted that Antonius 
would do any hurt to so noble a Lady, but rather assured 


184 


FROM THE LIFE OF 


himself, that within few daies she should be in great fauour 
with him. Therupon he did her great honor, and perswaded 
her to come into Cilicia, as honourably furnished as she could 

E ossible, and bad her not to be affraid at all of Antonius, for 
e was a more courteous Lord then any that she had euer 
scene. Cleopatra on the other side beleeuing Dellius words, 
and guessing by the former accesse and credit she had with 
Tulius Caesar, and C. Pompey (the Son of Pompey the Great) 
only for her beauty: she began to haue good hope that she 
might more easily win Antonius. For Caesar and Pompey 
knew her when she was but a yong thing, & knew not then 
what the world meant: but now she went to Antonius at the 
age when a womans beauty is at the prime, and she also of 
best iudgment. So she furnished her selfe with a world of 
gifts, store of gold and siluer, and of riches and other sump¬ 
tuous ornaments, as is credible enough she might bring from so 
great a house, and from so wealthy and rich a realme as iEgypt 
was. But yet she caried nothing with her wherin she trusted 
more then in her selfe, and in the charmes and inchauntment 
of her passing beautie and grace. ... So that in the end, 
there ranne such multitudes of people one after another to see 
her, that Antonius was left post alone in the market place, in 
his Imperiall seate to giue audience : and there went a rumour 
in the peoples mouths, that the goddesse Venus was come to 
play with the god Bacchus for the generall good of all Asia. 
When Cleopatra landed, Antonius sent to inuite her to supper 
to him. But she sent him word againe, he should do better 
rather to come and suppe with her. Antonius therefore to 
shew himselfe courteous vnto her at her arriual, was contented 
to obey her, and went to supper to her : where he found such 
passing sumptuous fare, that no tongue can expresse it. . . . 
Now Antonius delighting in these fond and childish pastimes, 
very ill newes were brought him from two places. The first 
from Rome, that his brother Lucius and Fuluia his wife, fell 
out first betweene themselues, and afterwards fell to open 
warre with Caesar, and had brought all to nought, that they 
were both driuen to flie out of Italie. The second newes, as 
bad as the first: that Labienus conquered all Asia with the 
armie of the Parthians, from the riuer of Euphrates, and from 
Syria, vnto the countries of Lydia and Ionia. Then beganne 
Antonius with much ado, a litle to rouze himselfe, as if he had 
bene wakened out of a deepe sleepe, and as a man may say, 
coming out of a great drunkennesse. So, first of all he bent 
himselfe against the Parthians, and went as farre as the 
countrey of Phoenicia : but there be receiued lametable letters 


MARCUS ANTONIUS. 


185 


from his wife Fuluia. Wherupon he straight returned 
towardes Italie, with two hundred saile; and as he went, 
tooke vp his friends by the way that fled out of Italie to come 
to him. By them he was informed, that his wife Fuluia was 
the only cause of this war : who being of a peeuish, crooked, & 
troblesome nature, had purposely raised this vprore in Italie, 
in hope therby to withdraw him from Cleopatra. But by good 
fortune, his wife Fuluia going to meete with Antonius sickened 
by the way, and died in the citie of Sicyone : and therefore 
Octauius Caesar and he were the easilier made friends together. 
For when Antonius landed in Italie, and that men saw Caesar 
asked nothing of him, and that Antonius on the other side laid 
all the fault and burden on his wife Fuluia : the friends of both 
parties would not suffer them to vnrippe any old matters, and 
to proue or defend who had the wrong or right, and who was 
the first procurer of this war, fearing to make matters worse 
betweene them: but they made them friends together, and 
deuided the Empire of Rome betweene them, making the sea 
Ionium the bounds of their diuision. For they gaue all the 
Prouinces Eastward vnto Antonius: and the countries West¬ 
ward vnto Caesar, and left Africke vnto Lepidus : and made a 
lawe, that they three one after another should make their 
friends Consuls, when they would not be themselues. This 
seemed to be a sound counsell, but yet it was to be confirmed 
with a straighter bond, which fortune offered thus. There 
was Octauia the eldest sister of Caesar, not by one mother, for 
she came of Ancharia, and Caesar himselfe afterwards of Accia. 
It is reported, that he dearely loued his sister Octauia, for 
indeed she was a noble Ladie, and left the widow of her first 
husband Caius Marcellus, who died not long before: and it 
seemed also that Antonius had bene widower euer since the 
death of his wife Fuluia. ... So when Caesar and he had 
made the match between them, they both went to Rome, 
about this mariage, although it was against the law, that a 
widowe should be mailed within ten months after her 
husbands death. Howbeit the Senate dispensed with the law, 
and so the mariage proceeded accordingly. Sextus Pompeius 
at that time kept in Sicilia, and so made many an inrode into 
Italie with a great number of pinnaces and other pyrates 
shippes, of the which were Captaines two notable pyrates, 
Menas and Menecrates, who so scoured all the sea thereabouts, 
that none durst peepe out with a saile. Furthermore, Sextus 
Pompeius had dealt very friendly with Antonius, for he had 
curteously receiued his mother, when she fled out of Italie 
with Fuluia : and therefore they thought good to make peace 


188 


FBOM THE LIFE OF 


with him. So they met all three together by the mount of 
Misena, vpon a hill that runneth farre into the sea: Pompey 
hauing his shippes riding hard by at anker, and Antonius and 
Caesar their armies vpon the shore side, directly ouer against 
him. Now, after they had agreed that Sextus Pompeius 
should haue Sicile and Sardinia, with this condition, that he 
should ridde the sea of all theeues and pirates, and make it 
safe for passengers, and withall, that he should send a certaine 
of wheate to Rome : one of them did feast another, and drew 
cuts who should begin. It was Pompeius chaunce to inuite 
them first. Wherupon Antonius asked him : and where shall 
we sup ? There, said Pompey, and showed him his Admirall 
gallie which had six banckes of oares : That (said he) is my 
fathers house they haue left me. He spake it to taunt 
Antonius, because he had his fathers house, that was Pompey 
the Great. So he cast ankers enow into the sea, to make his 
galley fast, and then built a bridge of wood to conuey them to 
his galley, from the head of mount Misena: and there he 
welcommed them, and made them great cheare. Now in the 
midst of the feast, when they fell to be merie with Antonius 
loue vnto Cleopatra: Menas the pirate came to Pompey, and 
whispering indiis eare, said unto him : Shall I cut the cables 
of the anchors, & make thee Lord not only of Sicile & Sardinia, 
but of the whole Empire of Rome besides ? Pompey hauing 
pawsed awhile vpon it, at length answered him : Thoushouldst 
naue done it, and neuer haue told it me, but now we must 
content us with what we haue: as for my selfe, I was neuer 
taught to breake my faith, nor to be counted a traitor. The 
other two also did likewise feast him in their campe, & then he 
returned into Sicile. Antonius after this agreement made, 
sent Ventidius before into Asia to stay the Parthians, & to 
keepe them they shold come no further: and he himselfe in 
the meane time, to gratifie Caesar, was contented to be chosen 
Iulius Caesars priest & sacrificer, and so they ioyntly together 
dispatched all great matters concerning the state of the Empire. 
But in all other maner of sports and exercises, wherein they 
passed the time away the one with the other: Antonius was euer 
inferior vnto Caesar, and always lost, which grieued him much. 
. . . By these conquests, the fame of Antonius power increased 
more and more, and grew dreadfull vnto all the barbarous 
nations. But Antonius notwithstanding, grew to be maruell- 
ously offended with Caesar, vpon certaine reports that had 
bene brought vnto him : and so tooke sea to go towards Italy 
with three hundred saile. And because those of Brvndvsivm 
would not receiue his armie into their hauen, he went f arther 


MARCUS ANTONIUS. 


187 


vnto Tarentvm. There his wife Octauia that carae out of 
Greece with him, besought him to send her vnto her brother, 
the which he did. Octauia at that time was great Avith child, 
and moreouer had a second daughter by him, and yet she put 
her selfe in iourney, and met with her brother Octauius Caesar 
by the way, who brought his two chiefe friends, Maecenas and 
Agrippa with him. She tooke them aside, and with all the 
instance she could possible, intreated them they would not 
suffer her that was the happiest woman of the world, to be¬ 
come now the most wretched and vnfortunatest creature of all 

other.When Octauia was returned to Rome from 

Athens, Caesar commanded her to go out of Antonius house, 
and to dwell by her selfe, because he had abused her. Octauia 
answered him againe, that she would not forsake her husbands 
house, and that if he had no other occasion to make warre -with 
him, she prayed him then to take no thought for her : for sayd 
she, it were too shamefull a thing, that two so famous Captaines 
should bring in ciuill warres among the Romains, the one for 
the loue of a woman, and the other for the iealousie betwixt 
one another. Now as she spake the word, so did she also 
performe the deed : for she kept still in Antonius house, as if 
ne had bene there, and very honestly, and honourably kept his 
children, not those onely she had by him, but the other which 
her husband had by Fuluia. Furthermore, when Antonius sent 
any of his men to Rome, to sue for any office in the common¬ 
wealth : she receiued them very courteously, & so vsed her 
selfe vnto her brother, that she obtained the things she re¬ 
quested. Howbeit thereby, thinking no hurt, she did Antonius 
great hurt. For her honest loue and regard to her husband, 
made euery man hate him, when they saw he did so vnkindly 
vse so noble a Lady : but yet the greatest cause of their malice 
vnto him, was for the diuision of lands he made amongst hia 
children in the city of Alexandria. . . . Afterwards he sent 
to Rome to put his wife Octauia out of his house, who (as it 
is reported) went out of his house with all Antonius children, 
sauing the eldest of them he had by Fuluia, who was with hia 
father: bewailing and lamenting her cursed hap that had 
brought her to this, that she was accompted one of the chiefest 
causes of this ciuill war. . . . Now after that Caesar had made 
sufficient preparation, he proclaimed open war against Cleo¬ 
patra, and made the people to abolish the power and Empire 
of Antonius, because he had before giuen it up vnto a woman. 
And Caesar sayd furthermore, that Antonius was not maister of 
himselfe, but that Cleopatra had brought him beside himselfe, 
by her charmes and amorous poysons: and that they that 



188 


FROM THE LIFE OF 


should make warre with them, should he Mardian the Eunuch, 
Photinus, and Iras (a woman of Cleopatraes bed-chamber, who 
frizeled her haire, and dressed her head) and Charmion, the 
which were those that ruled all the affaires of Antonius Empire. 
Before this warre, it is reported, many signes and wonders fell 
out. First of all, the citie of Pisavrvm which was made a 
Colonie to Borne, and ^replenished with people by Antonius, 
standing vpon the shoare side, of the sea Adriaticke, was by 
a terrible earthquake sunke into the ground. One of the 
images of stone which was set vp in the honour of Antonius, 
in the citie of Alba, did sweate many dayes together: 
and though some wiped it away, yet it left not sweat¬ 
ing still. In the citie of Patras wildest Antonius were 
there, the temple of Hercules was burnt with lightning. 

. . . Caesar wold not grant vnto Antonius requests: but for 
Cleopatra, he made her answer, that he would deny her no¬ 
thing reasonable, so that she would either put Antonius to 
death, or driue him out of her country. ... So Caesar came 
and pitched his camp hard by the citie, in the place where they 
runne and mannage their horses. . . . The next morning by 
breake of day, Antonius went to set those few footemen he had 
in order vpon the hills adioyning vnto the citie : and there he 
stood to behold his gallies which departed from the hauen, 
and rowed against the gallies of his enemies, and so stood still, 
looking what exploit his soldiers in them would do. But when 
by force of rowing they were come neare vnto them, they first 
saluted Caesars men; and then Caesars men resaluted them 
also, and of two armies made but one : and then did altogether 
row toward the citie. When Antonius saw his men did forsake 
him, and yeelded vnto Caesar, and that his footemen were 
broken and ouerthrowne : he then fled into the citie, crying out 
that Cleopatra had betrayed him vnto them, with whom he 
had made warre for her sake. Then she being affraid of his 
furie, fled into the tombe which she had caused to be made, 
and there she locked the doores vnto her, and shut all the 
springs of the lockes with great bolts, and in the meane time 
sent vnto Antonius to tell him, that she was dead. Antonius 
beleeuing it, said vnto himself : What doest thou looke for 
further, Antonius, sith spitefull fortune hath taken from thee 
the only ioy thou hadst, for whom thou yet reseruedst thy life. 
When he had said these words, he went into a chamber & 
vnarmed himself, & being naked, said thus : O Cleopatra, it 
grieueth me not that I haue lost thy company, for I will not 
be long fro thee : but I am sory, that hauing bene so great a 
Captaine and Emperor, I am indeed condemned to be iudged 


MARCUS ANTONIUS. 


189 


of lease courage and noble mind, then a woman. Now he had 
& man of hia called Eros, whom he loued and trusted much, 
and whom.he had long before caused to sweare vnto him, that 
he should kill him when he did commaund him : and then he 
willed him to keepe las promise. His man drawing his sword, 
lift it vp as though he had meant to haue striken his master : 
but turning his head at one side, he thrust his sword into him- 
selfe, and fell downe dead at his masters foote. Then said 
Antonius : 6 noble Eros, I thanke thee for this, and it ia 
valiantly done of thee, to shew me what I should do to my 
selfe, which thou couldest not do for me. Therewithall he 
tooke his sword, and thrust it into his belly, and so fell downe 
vpon a litle bed. The wound he had, killed him not presently, 
for the bloud stinted a litle when he was layed : and when he 
came somewhat to himselfe againe, he prayed them that were 
about him, to dispatch him. But they all fled out of the 
chamber, and left him crying out and tormenting himselfe : 
vntill at last there came a Secretarie vnto him (called Diomedes) 
who was commanded to bring him into the tomb or monument 
where Cleopatra was. When he heard that she was aliue, he 
very earnestly pi-ayed his men to carie his bodie thither, and so 
he was caried in his mens armes into the entry of the monu¬ 
ment. Notwithstanding, Cleopatra would not open the gates, 
but came to the high windowes, and cast out certaine chaines 
and ropes, in the which Antonius was trussed : and Cleopatra 
her owne selfe, with two women only, which she had suffered 
to come with her into these monuments, trised Antonius vp. 
They that were present to behold it, said they neuer saw so 
pitifull a sight. For they plucked vp poore Antonius all bloudie 
as he was, and drawing on with pangs of death : who holding 
vp his hands to Cleopatra, raised vp himselfe as well as he 
could. It was a hard thing for these women to do, to lift him 
vp : but Cleopatra stooping downe with her head, putting too 
all her strength to her vttermost power, did lift him vp with 
much ado, and neuer let go her hold, with the helpe of the 
women beneath that bad her be of good courage, and were as 
sory to see her labour so, as she herselfe. So when she had 
gotten him in after this sort, and laid him on a bed : she rent 
her garments vpon him, clapping her breast, and scratching 
her face and stomacke. Then she dried vp his blood that had 
berayed his face, and called him her Lord, her husband, and 
Emperor, forgetting her own miserie and calamitie, for the 
pity and compassion she took of him. Antonius made her 
cease her lamenting, and called for wine, either because he 
was a thirst, or else for that he thought thereby to hasten his 


190 


FROM THE LIFE OF 


death. When he had drunke, he earnestly prayed her, and 
perswaded her, that she would seek to saue her life, if she 
could possible, without reproch and dishonour: and that chiefly 
she should trust Proculeius aboue any man else about Csesar. 
And as for himselfe, that she should not lament nor sorrow 
for the miserable chaunge of his fortune at the end of his 
dayes : but rather that she should think him the more for¬ 
tunate, for the former triumphes and honors he had receiued ; 
considering that while he liued, he was the noblest & greatest 
Prince of the world, & that now he was ouercome, not cowardly, 
but valiantly, a Romaine by another Romaine. As Antonius 
gaue the last gaspe, Proculeius came that was sent from Caesar. 
For after Antonius had thrust his sword in himself, as they 
caried him into the tombes and monuments of Cleopatra, 
one of his guard (called Dercetaeus) took his sword with the 
which he had stricken himselfe, and hid it: then he secretly 
stale away, and brought Octauius Caesar the first newes of his 
death, & shewed him his sword that was bloudied. Caesar 
hearing these newes, straight withdrew himselfe into a secret 

E lace of his tent, and there burst out with teares, lamenting 
is hard and miserable fortune, that had bene his friend and 
brother in law, his equall in the Empire, and companion with 
him in sundry great exploits and battels. . . . Kings and 
Captaines did craue Antonius bodie of Octauius Caesar, to giue 
him honourable buriall: but Caesar would neuer take it from 
Cleopatra, who did sumptuously and royally burie him with 
her owne hands, whom Caesar suffered to take as much as she 
would to bestow vpon his funerals. Now was she altogether 
ouercome with sorow and passion of mind, for she had knocked 
her brest so pitifully, that she had martyred it, and in diuers 
places had raised vlcers and inflammations, so that she fell 
into a feauer withall : whereof she was very glad, hoping 
thereby to haue good colour to abstaine from meat, and that 
so she might haue died easily without any trouble. She had a 
Phisitian called Olympus, whom she made priuy of her intent, 
to the end he should helpe to rid her out of her life : as 
Olympus writeth himselfe, who wrote a booke of all these 
things. But Csesar mistrusted the matter, by many coniec- 
tures he had, and therefore did put her in feare, and threatned 
to put her children to shameful! death. With these threates, 
Cleopatra for feare yeelded straight, as she would haue yeelded 
vnto strokes : and afterwards suffered her selfe to be cured and 
dieted as they listed. . . . Now whilest Cleopatra was at 
dinner, there came a countriman and brought her a basket. 
The souldiers that warded at the gates, asked him straight 


MARCUS ANTONIUS. 


191 


what he had in his basket. He opened his basket, and tooke 
out the leaues that couered the figs, and shewed them that 
they were figs he bought. They all of them maruelled to see 
so goodly figges. The countriman laughed to heare them, and 
bad them fake some if they would. They beleeued he told 
him truly, and so bad him carie them in. After Cleopatra had 
dined, she sent a certaine table written and sealed vnto Caesar, 
and commaunded them all to go out of the tombes where she 
was, but the two women, then she shut the doores to her. 
Caesar when he receiued this table, and began to reade her 
lamentation and petition, requesting him that he would let her 
be buried with Antonius, found straight what she meant, and 
thought to haue gone thither himselfe : howbeit, he sent one 
before in all hast that might be, to see what it was. Her death 
was very sodaine: for those whom Caesar sent vnto her, ran 
thither in all hast possible, and found the souldiers standing at 
the gate, mistrusting nothing, nor vnderstanding of her death. 
But when they had opened the doores, they found Cleopatra 
.tarke dead, laid vpon a bed of gold, attired and arrayed in her 
royall robes, and one of her two women, which was called Iras, 
dead at her feet: and her other woman (called Charmion) 
halfe dead, & trembling, trimming the Diademe which Cleo¬ 
patra wore vpon her head. One of the soldiers seeing her, 
angrily said vnto her: Is that well done Charmion ? Very 
well, said she againe, and meete for a Princesse descended from 
the race of so many noble Kings : she said no more, but fell 
down dead hard by the bed. Some report, that this Aspicke 
was brought vnto her in the basket with figs; and that he had 
commanded them to hide it vnder the fig leaues, that when 
she should thinke to take out the figs, the Aspicke should bite 
her before she should see her: howbeit, that when she wold 
haue taken away the leaues for the figs, she perceiued it, and 
said, Art thou here then ? And so her arme being naked, she 
put it to the Aspicke to be bitten. Other say againe, she kept 
it in a boxe, and that she did pricke and thrust it with a 
spindle of gold, so that the Aspicke being angred withall, 
leapt out with great furie, and bit her in the arme. Howbeit 
few can tell the troth. For they report also, that she had 
hidden poyson in a hollow razor which she caried in the haira 
•f her head ; and yet was there no marke seene of her bodie, 
or any signe discerned that she was poisoned, neither also did 
they find this serpent in her tombe : but it was reported onely, 
that there was seene certaine fresh steppes or trackes where it 
had gone, on the tombe side toward the sea, and specially by 
the iloore side. Some say also, that they found two litli 


192 FROM THE LIFE OF MARCHS ANTONIE'S. 

pretie bitings in her arme, scant to be discerned: the which it 
seemeth Caesar himselfe gaue credit vnto, because in his 
triumph he caried Oleopatraes image, with an Aspicke biting of 
her arme. And thus goeth the report of her death. Now 
Caesar, though he was maruellous sorie for the death of Cleo¬ 
patra, yet he wondred at her noble mind and courage, and 
therefore commaunded she should be nobly buried, and layed 
by Antonius : and willed also that her two women should haue 
honourable buriall. Cleopatra died being eight and thirtie 
yeares old, after she had raigned two and twentie years, and 
gouerned aboue fourteene of them with Antonius. And fnr 
Antonius, some say that he liued three and fiftie yeares : aad 
others say, six and fiftie. 


Glossary 


Abhorring, abomination; V. 
ii. 60 . 

Abode, staying; I. ii. 185 . 
Abstract; “the a. of all 
faults,” “a microcosm of 
sinfulness”; I. iv. 9 . 
Abused, ill-used; III. vi. 86. 
Abysm, abyss; III. xi. 147 . 
Admitted, acknowledged; 
registered; (Theobald, 
“omitted,”)’, V. ii. 139 . 
Afeared, afraid; II. v. 81 . 
Affect’st, pleasest; (F. 1 , 

“affects”); I. iii. 71 . 

Aid; “pray in a.”, seek as¬ 
sistance, call in help from 
another; V. ii. 27 . 
Alcides, Hercules; IV. x. 
57- 

Alike; “having a. your 
cause,” “being engaged in 
the same cause with you” 
(Malone); II. ii. 55 . 
All-obeying, obeyed by all; 
III. xi. 77 . 

Alms-drink, “leavings”; 

(according to Warburton 
a phrase amongst good fel¬ 
lows to signify that 
liquor of another’s share 
which his companion 
drinks to ease him); II. 

vii. s. 

Angle, angling-line, fishing- 
line; II. v. 10. 

Answer, render account; 

III. xi. 27 . 

Antoniad, the name of the 
flag-ship of Cleopatra; III. 

viii. 10 . 

Apace, fast; IV. vii. 6. 
Appeal, impeachment; III. 
v. 11 . 


Approof; “and as my fur¬ 
thest band shall pass on 
thy a.,” i.e., “such as when 
tried will prove to be be¬ 
yond anything that I can 
promise” (Schmidt); III. 

ii. 27. 

Approves, proves; I. i. 60. 
Arabian bird, i.e., the Phoe¬ 
nix; III. ii. 12. 

Argument, proof; III. x. 
3 - 

Arrogant, ( vide Note); I. 
v 48. 

Armourer, one who has 
care of the armour of his 
master; IV. iv. 7. 

As, as if; I. ii. 106. 

As low as, lower than; III. 

iii. 35 - 

Aspic, asp, a venomous 
snake; V. ii. 293. 

Aspic’s, (Ff. 2, 3, 4, “As¬ 
pects”) ; V. ii. 330. 

As, as if; IV. viii. 6. 

At heel of, on the heels of, 
immediately after; II. ii. 
163. 

Atone, reconcile: II. ii. 
106. 

Attend, witness, take notice 
of; II. ii. 64; await, III. 
viii. 38. 

Augurer, diviner, fortell- 
er; V. ii. 333. 

Auguring, prophesying; II. 

i. 10. 

Avoid, begone, withdraw; V. 

ii. 241. 

Awry, not straight; (Pope’s 
emendation of Ff. 
“away”)’, V. ii. 318. 


Antony and Cleopatra. 


I 





Glossary 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Band, bond; II. vi. 128; III. 
ii. 26. 

Banquet, dessert; I. ii. 11. 
Barked, peeled; IV. x. 36. 
Battery; “b. from my 
heart,” i.e., the battery 
proceeding from the beat¬ 
ing of, my heart; IV. xii. 
39- 

Battle, army; III. viii. 6. 
Becked, beckoned; IV. x. 
39- 

Beguiled, cheated; V. ii. 
323. 

Belike, I suppose; I. ii. 3d 
Bench-holes, holes of a 
privy; IV. vii. 9. 

Bereave, deprive; V. ii. 129. 
Best, it were best; IV. vi. 
26. 

Bestrid, did stride over; V. 
ii. 82. 

Betime, betimes, in good 
time; IV. iv. 20. 

Blown, swollen; V. ii. 348. 
Blows, swells; IV. vi. 34. 
Boar; “the b. of Thessaly,” 

i. e.,. “the boar killed by 
Meleager”; IV. xi. 2. 

Boggler, inconstant woman; 
III. xi. no. 

Bolts up, fetters; V. ii. 6. 
Bond, “bounden duty” 
(Mason); I. iv. 84. 

Boot; “make b.”, take ad¬ 
vantage; IV. i. 9. 

Boot thee with, give thee 
to boot, give thee in addi¬ 
tion; II. v. 71. 

Boy my greatness, alluding 
to the fact of boys or 
youths playing female 
parts on the stage in the 
time of Shakespeare; V. 

ii. 219. 

Branded, stigmatised; IV. 
xii. 76. 

Brave, defy; IV. iv. 5. 
Break, communicate; I. ii. 
187. 


Breather, one who lives; 

III. iii. 22. 

Breathing, utterance; I. iii. 
14. 

Breese, gadfly; III. viii. 22. 

Brief, summary; V. ii. 137. 

Bring, take; III. v. 23. 

Bring me, i.e., bring me 
word; IV. xi. 10. 

Brooched, adorned as witl\ 
a brooch; (Wray conj. 
“brook’d”) ; IV. xiii. 26. 

Burgonet, a close-fitting 
helmet; I. v. 24. 

But, if not; V. ii. 103. 

But being, except, unless 
we are; IV. x. 10. 

But it is, except it be, if it 
be not; V. i. 27. 

By, according to; III, iii. 
41. 

Call on him, call him to 
account; (?) “visit,” 
(Schmidt); I. iv. 28. 

Cantle, piece; III. viii. 14. 

Carbuncled, set with car¬ 
buncles; IV. viii. 28. 

Carriage; “the c. of his 
chafe,” the bearing of his 
passion, i.e., his angry 
bearing; I. iii. 85. 

Carries beyond, surpasses; 
III. vii. 74. 

Cast, cast up, calculate; III. 
ii. 17. 

Chance; fortune; V. ii. 173; 
“wounded ch.”, broken 
fortunes; III. viii. 42. 

Chance, occur; III. iv. 13. 

Chare, task; V. ii. 230. 

Chares, drudgery; IV. xiii. 
76. 

Charm, charmer; IV. x. 29. 

Check, rebuke; IV. iv. 31. 

Chuck, a term of endear¬ 
ment; IV. iv. 2. 

Circle, crown; III. x. 18. 

Clip, embrace, IV. viii. 8; 
surround, V. ii. 358. 


2 






ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA Glossary. 


Close, hidden; IV. ix. 6. 
Cloth of gold of tissue, 
i.e., “cloth of gold in tis¬ 
sue or texture”; (?) 
cloth of gold on a ground 
of tissue; II. ii. 204. 
Clouts, cloths; (?) blows, 
knocks; IV. vii. 6. 
Cloyless, preventing satiety; 

II. i. 25. 

Colour, excuse, pretext; I. 

iii. 32. 

Comes deared, becomes en¬ 
deared; (Ff., "comes 
fear’d”); I. iv. 44. 
Comfort; “best of c.”, i.e., 
“may the best of comfort 
be yours” . (Steevens); 
(Rowe, “Be of comfort”) ; 

III. vi. 89. 

Command, all power to com¬ 
mand; III. ix. 23. 
Commission, warrant; II. iii. 
42. 

Comparisons, advantages, 
i.e., “things in his favour, 
when compared to me”; 
(Pope, "caparisons”)', III. 

xi. 26. 

Competitor, associate; I. iv. 
3 - 

Compose, come to a compo¬ 
sition; II. ii. 15. 
Composure, composition; I. 

iv. 22. 

Conclusion; “still c.’\ i.e., 
quiet inference; (Collier 
MS., “still condition ”); 

IV. xiii. 29. 

Conclusions, experiments; 

V. ii. 354- . 

Confound; waste, I. 1. 45 5 

destroy, III. ii. 57. 
Concealment, congealed 
blood; IV. viii. 10. 
Content, agreed; IV. iii. 23. 
Continent; “thy c.”, that 
which encloses thee; IV. 

xii. 40. 

Contriving; “many our c. 


friends,” i.e., “many 
friends who are busy in our 
interest”; I. ii. 192. 
Conversation, deportment; 
II. vi. 130. 

Corrigible, submissive to 
correction; IV. xii. 74. 
Couch, lie; IV. xii. 51. 
Could, would gladly; I. ii. 
_ I 35 - 

Course, pursue hotly; III. 
xi. 11. 

Court of guard, guard room; 
IV. ix. 2. 

Crack, burst of sound; V. i. 

15. 

Crescent, increasing; II. i. 
10. 

Crested, formed the crest 
of; V. ii. 83. 

Crownet, crown; IV. x. 40. 
Crownets, coronets; V. ii. 
91. 

Cunning, “dexterous and 
trickish in dissembling”; 
I. ii. 154. 

Cunning, skill, art; II. iii. 
35 - 

Curious, careful; III. ii. 35. 
Curstness, ill-humour; II. 
ii. 25. 


Dare, defiance; I. ii. 195. 
Darkens, obscures; III. i. 
24. 

Darkling, in the dark; IV. 
xiii. 11. 

Dealt on lieutenantry, 
acted by proxy; III. ix. 
39 - 

Death and honour, hon¬ 
ourable death; IV. ii. 44. 
Declined, decayed, fallen; 
III. xi. 27. 

Defeat’st, dost destroy; IV. 
xii. 68. 

Defend, forbid; III. iii. 44 - 
Demon, attendant spirit; ii. 
iii. 20. 


* 


3 






Glossary. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Demurely, solemnly, grave¬ 
ly; IV. ix. 32. 

Demuring, looking with 
affected modesty; IV. xiii. 
30. 

Deputation; “in d.”, by 
deputy; (Ff., “ disputa¬ 

tion”) ; III. xi. 74. 
Derogately, disparagingly; 

II. ii. 38. 

Desires, “your d. are yours,” 
your desires are granted; 

III. iv. 28. 

Determine, decide, resolve; 

V. i. 59 - 

Determines, comes to an 
end; III. xi. 161. 
Diminutives, insignificant 
creatures; IV. x. 50. 
Disaster, disfigure; II. vii. 
1 7 - 

Discandy, melt; IV. x. 35. 
Discandying, melting, thaw¬ 
ing; (Ff. “discandering”; 
Rowe, discattering ”); 

III. xi. 165. 

Discontents, malcontents; 

I. iv. 39. 

Dislimns, effaces, blots out; 
Ff., “ dislimes”) ; IV. xii. 
10. 

Dismission, dismissal, dis¬ 
charge; I. i. 26. 

Disponge, pour down; IV. 
ix. 13. 

Dispose, dispose of; V. ii. 
185. 

Disposed, settled matters; 
(Collier MS., “ c 0 tri¬ 
pos’d”); IV. xii. 123. 
Disposition; “pinch one an¬ 
other by the d.” “touch 
one another in a sore 
place” (Warburton) ; “try 
each other by banter” 
(Clarke); II. vii. 6. 
Distractions, detachments; 
III. vii. 75. 

Divine, prophesy, predict; 

II. vi. 122. 


Doff't, doff it, take it off; 
(F. 1, “daft”; Ff. 2, 3, 4, 
“doft”; Rowe, “dof’t’’)-, 

IV. iv. 13. 

Doits, the smallest sum of 
money; (Ff., “Dolts,” i.e., 
fools; for which reading 
much is to be said); IV. 
x. 50. 

Doughty-handed, stout of 
hands; IV. viii. 5. 

Dread, fear; IV. xii. 127. 

Dumbed, silenced; (Ff., 
“dumb”; Warburton, 
“done ”); I. v. 50. 


Ear, plough; I. iv. 49. 

Earing, tilling, ploughing; 
I. ii. 119. 

Ebbed, declined, decayed; I. 
iv. 43. 

Edges, blades, swords; II. 
vi. 38. 

Edict, “make thine own e.”, 
decree the reward you de¬ 
sire; III. x. 32. 

Effects, realisation; V. ii. 
330 . . 

Egypt, i.e., the Queen of 
Egypt; I. iii. 78/ 

Egypt's widow, i.e., Cleo¬ 
patra, who had been mar¬ 
ried to young Ptolemy, 
afterwards drowned; II. i. 
37 - 

Elder, better, superior; III. 
viii. 21. 

Emeattle, be drawn up in 
battle array; IV. ix. 3. 
Embossed, foaming at the 
mouth; a hunting term; 
(Ff. “imbost ”); IV. xi. 

3 - 

Enforce, urge, II. ii. 103; 
lay much stress upon; V. 
ii. 124. 

Enfranched, enfranchised; 
(Theobald, “e n fra «- 
chis’d”); III. xi. 149. 


4 



ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA Glossary. 


Enfranchise, set free, de¬ 
liver; I. i. 23. 

Enow, enough; (used as 
plural of enough ); I. iv. 

11. 

Ensued, followed; IV. xii. 

Entertainment, reception, 
iii. xi. 140; service, IV. 
vi. 17. 

Enter with, recommend to; 
IV. xii. 113. 

Envy, malice; V. ii. 163. 
Estridge, ostrich; III. xi. 
196. 

Eternal; “e. in our 
triumph,” i.e., “be for ever 
recorded as the most glo¬ 
rious trophy of our 
triumph”; (Thirlby conj. 
"eternaling ”); V. i. 67. 
Every of, every one of; I. 

ii. 39. 

Evidence, proof; I. iii. 74. 
Exigent, exigency, decisive 
moment; IV. xii. 63. 
Expedience, expedition; I. 
ii. 188. 

Extended, seized upon; a 
law term; I. ii. 108. 

Eye, appear; I. iii. 97. 


Faction, dissension; I. iii. 
48. 

Fairy, enchantress; IV. viii. 
12. 

Fall, befall, fall upon. III. 
vii. 38; let fall. III. ix. 
69. 

Fallible, blunder for infal¬ 
lible; (F. 1, “fal liable”)-, 

V. ii. 257 - 

Fame, rumour, report; II. ii. 
168. 

Fast and loose, a cheating 
game of gipsies; IV. x. 41. 
Favour, face, countenance, 

II. v. 38. 

Fear, frighten; II. vi. 24. 


Fearful, full of fear; III. 
ix. 55 - 

Feature, external appear¬ 
ance; II. v. 112. 

Feeders, parasites; III. xi. 
109. 

Fellows, companions; IV. ii. 
13 - 

Fervency, eagerness; II. v. 

18. 

Fetch in, take, capture; IV. 
i. 14. 

Fever, put in a fever; III. 
xi. 138. 

Figs; ‘‘I love long life better 
than f.”, a proverbial 
phrase; I. ii. 33. 

Files, lines of soldiers; I. 
i- 3 - 

Finish, end, die; V. ii. 192. 
Flaw; ‘‘becomes his f.”; i.e., 
‘‘accommodates himself to 
his misfortune”; III. x. 
34 - 

Fleet, float; (Rowe "float”)-, 
III. xi. 171. 

Flush youth, youth ripened 
to manhood”; (Ff. 2, 3, 4, 
"fleshy ”); I. iv. 52. 
Foison, plenty; II. vii. 21. 
Followed, chased; V. i. 36. 
Footmen, foot soldiers; III. 
vii. 43- 

For, as for, as regards; III. 
vi. 34; III. x. 19; V. ii. 
66 . 

Forbear, withdraw; V. ii. 
174. 

Forbear me, leave me alone; 
I. ii. 129. 

Formal, ordinary; II. v. 41. 
Forspoke, gainsaid; III. vii. 
3 - 

Forth, out of; IV. x. 7. 

For that, nevertheless, II. ii. 

74; because, III. vii. 28. 
Frame to, conform; V. i. 55. 
From, away from; II. vi. 30. 
Front, oppose, face; I. iv. 
79 - 


5 




Glossary. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Fronted, opposed; II. ii. 65. , 
Frustrate, frustrated; V. i. [ 
2. 

Fullest, most perfect; III. 

xi. 87. 

Garboils, disturbances, tur¬ 
moils; I. iii. 61. 

Gaudy, festive; III. xi. 182. 
Guests; (Warburton’s conj. 
adopted by Theobald, 
“ge.sT.y'’=deeds); IV. viii. 

2. 

Get, win; IV. viii. 22. 

Give, give out, represent; I. 
iv. 40. 

Give off, go off, cease; IV. 

iii. 23- 

Got, won; V. ii. 39. 

Got upon, won, gained; IV. 

xii. 98. 

Grace, honour; III. xi. 81. 
Grace; “to gr.’’, by gracing; 
IV. xii. 136. 

Graceful, favourable; II. ii. 

64. 

Grants, allows, admits; III. 

i. 29. 

Grates me, it vexes me; I. 

i. 18. 

’Greed, agreed; II. vi. 37. 
Green sickness, a disease of 
women, characterised by a 
pale, lurid complexion; III. 

ii. 6. 

Griefs, grievances; II. ii. 
104. 

Grow to, be added to; II. 

ii. 25. 

H, formerly pronounced ache; 
here used with play upon 
the letter and the word; 
IV. vii. 8. 

Hap, accident, chance; II. 

iii. 33 - 

Haply, perhaps; III. xi. 48. 
Hardly, with difficulty; V. 

i- 75 - 


Harried, vexed, put in fear; 
III. iii. 41. 

Hearts; “my h.”, a familiar 
appellation; IV. ii. 41. 

Heaviness, used with play 
upon the two senses of the 
word, (i.) weight, (ii.) 
sorrow; IV, xiii. 34. 

Heavy, sad; IV. xiii. 41. 

Held my cap off, acted as a 
faithful servant; II. vii. 
61. 

IIerod, a common character 
in the old Mystery plays; 
typically, a fierce tyrant; 
I. ii. 28. 

Hie, hasten; II. iii. 15. 

Hie thee, hasten; V. ii. 193. 

High-battled, commanding 
proud armies; III. xi. 29. 

His, its; III. x. 10. 

Holding, burden of the 
song; II. vii. 116. 

Homager, vassal; I. i. 31. 

Home, “without reserve, 
without ceremony”; I. ii. 
113 - 

Hope, suppose; II. i. 38. 

Humanity, human nature; 
V. i. 32. 


Idleness, frivolousness; I. 

iii. 92. 

If that, if; III. xi. 80. 
Immoment, insignificant, of 
no moment; V. ii. 165. 
Immortal, blunder for mor¬ 
tal, deadly; V. ii. 246. 
Imperious, imperial; IV. xiii. 
24. 

Import, carry with them; II. 
ii. 138. 

Impress, press, impressment; 
III. vii. 37. 

In, in for it; II. vii. 36. 
Inclips, encloses; II. vii. 
72 - 

Ingrossf.d, collected, got to¬ 
gether, III. vii. 37. 


6 






ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA Glossary 


Inhooped, enclosed in a 
hoop; II. iii. 39. 
Injurious, hurtful, malig¬ 
nant; IV. xiii. 77. 
Intend, “how i. you,” what 
do you mean; II. ii. 44. 
Intrinsicate, intricate; (Ca- 
pell’s Errata, “intrinse- 
cate”; Wray conj. “intri¬ 
cate”) : V. ii. 304. 

Isis, one of the chief Egyp¬ 
tian divinities; originally 
the goddess of the Earth, 
afterwards of the Moon; 
her worship was after¬ 
wards introduced into 
Rome; I. ii. 67. 

Jack, term of contempt; III. 
xi. 93. 

Jaded, spurned; III. 1. 34. 
Jump, hazard, stake; III. viii. 

4 - 

Keep; “k., yourself within 
yourself”, keep within 
bounds, restrain yourself; 
II. v. 75. 

Kind; “do his k. i.e., “act 
according to his nature”; 
V. ii. 262. 

Knave, boy; IV. xii. 12; 

servant; V. ii. 3. 

Known, known each other; 
II. vi. 85. 

Lack blood, turn pale; I. iv. 
52 - 

Lance, cut; in order to cure; 
(Ff., “launch”; Pope, 
“launce ”); V. i. 36. 
Languish, lingering disease; 
(Johnson conj. “anguish”) ; 
V. ii. 42. 

Lanked, became thin; I. iv. 

7 1 - T . 

Late, lately; IV. 1. 13. 
Lated, belated; III. ix. 3. 
Legions, bodies of infantry, 


each consisting of six thou¬ 
sand men; III. viii. 40. 
Length, length of life; 
(Steevens conj. “life”); 
IV. xii. 46. _ 

Lethe'd, oblivious, uncon¬ 
scious; (Ff., “Lethied”); 

II. i. 27. 

Levelled at, guessed at; V. 
ii- 335 - 

Lichas, the companion of 
Hercules; (Ff., “Licas”); 
IV. x. 58. 

Life; “her 1 . in Rome,” i.e., 
her being brought alive to 
Rome; V. i. 66. 

Lightness, used in double 
sense, with play upon, the 
two senses of the word; I. 
iv. 25. 

Like, same, I. iii. 8; III. vi. 

37; likely, III. xi. 29. 

List, listen to; IV. ix. 6. 
Loathness, unwillingness; 

III. ix. 18. 

Loofed, luffed, brought close 
to the wind; III. viii. 25. 
Lottery, prize; II. ii. 248. 
Loud, in high words; II. ii. 
21. 

Luxuriously, lustfully; III. 
xi. 120. 

Make note, notice, observe; 

III. iii. 24. 

Mallard, drake; III. viii. 27. 
Mandragora, mandrake; a 
plant, the root of which 
was thought to resemble 
the human figure and to 
cause madness, and even 
death when torn from the 
ground; I. v. 4. 
Marble-constant, firm as 
marble; V. ii. 239. 

Mean, means; III. ii. 32. 
Mechanic, vulgar, journey¬ 
man-like; IV. iv. 32. 
Medicine, elixir; (?) physi¬ 
cian; I. v. 36. 


7 



Glossary. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Meeter, more fitting; V. i. 
49 - 

Meetly, well; I. iii. 81. 
Mered; “m question,” i.e., 
“the sole cause and sub¬ 
ject of the war”; (Rowe, 
“meer”; Johnson, “moot¬ 
ed”; Jackson, “meted”; 
Kinnear, “merest,” etc .); 
III. xi. io. 

Merety, absolutely; III. vii. 

8; III. vii. 46. 

Merits, deserts; V. ii. 177. 
Mind, “less noble m.”, i.e., 
being of less noble mind; 
(Rowe, Pope, less noble- 
minded) ; IV. xii. 60. 
Mingle, union; I. v. 50. 
Misdoubt, mistrust; III. vii. 
61. 

Mislike, dislike; III. xi. 147. 
Missive, messenger; II. ii. 
78 . 

Misthought, misunderstood, 
misjudged; V. ii. 175. 
Modern, ordinary; V. ii. 166. 
Moe, more; IV. xii. 18. 
Moment; “upon far poorer 
m.”, with less cause; I. ii. 
150. 

Moody, sad; II. v. 1. 

Moons, months; III. x. 6. 
Morn-dew, morning-dew; 
III. x. 9. 

Mortal, deadly; V. ii. 303. 
Most, utmost; II. ii. 171. 
Motion: “in my m.”, “intui¬ 
tively”; II. iii. 14. 

Mount, "at the M.,” i.e., M. 

Misenum; II. iv. 6. 
Muliters, (so Ff. 2, 3, 4; 
Ff. 1. “Militers”); mule¬ 
teers, mule-drivers; (F. 1, 
“Militers ”); III. vii. 34. 
Mused of, thought of, 
dreamed of; III. xi. 83. 
Muss, “a scramble, when any 
Small objects are thrown 
down, to be taken by those 


who can seize them.” 
(Nares); III. xi. 91. 

Naught, worthless; IV. xiii. 
79 - 

Negligent; “in n. danger”, 

i. e., “in danger through be¬ 
ing negligent”; III. vi. 81. 

Nessus; “the shirt of N.”, 
the shirt dipped in the pois¬ 
oned blood of Nessus, 
which caused Hercules the 
most terrible agony when 
he unwittingly put it on; 
IV. x. 56. 

Nice, tender, dainty; III. 
xi. 179. 

Nicked, “set the mark of 
folly on”; III. xi. 8. 

Noises it, causes a disturb¬ 
ance; III. vi. 96. 

Number, put into verse; III. 

ii. 17. 

O, circle; V. ii. 81. 
Oblivion, oblivious memory, 
forgetfulness; I. iii. 90. 
Observance, powers of obser¬ 
vation; III. iii. 23. 
Obstruct, obstruction; (War- 
burton conj., adopted by 
Theobald; Ff., “abstract”; 
Keightley, “obstruction” ; 
Cartwright conj. “ob¬ 
stacle”) ; III. vi. 61. 
Occasion, necessity; II. vi. 
139 . 

Of, by, I. iv. 37; II. ii. 164; 
about, concerning, II. vi. 
124; from; IV. viii. 22; 
for, IV. xiii. 61; with, V. 
ii. 211. 

Office, function, service; I. 
i. 5 . 

On, of; I. v. 27; II. ii. 89; 

III. ii. 60. 

Oppression, difficulty; (War- 
burton conj. adopted by 
Hanmer, “ opposition”); 

IV. vii. 2. 


3 




ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA Glossary 


Orbs, spheres; III. xi. 146. 
Ordinary, meal; II. ii. 230. 
Ostentation, display; (Theo¬ 
bald, “ostent S. Walker 
conj. “ostention ”); III. vi. 
52. 

Out-go; “the time shall not 
o.,” “life shall not last 
longer than”; III. ii. 61. 
Outstrike, strike faster 
than; IV. vi. 36. 

Owe, own; IV. viii. 31. 

Pace, break in; II. ii. 68. 
Packed, sorted, shuffled in an 
unfair manner; IV. xii. 
19 - 

Pacokus, son of Orodes, 
King of Parthia; III. i. \. 
Pales, impales, encloses; II. 
vii. 72. 

Palled, decaying, waning; 
II. vii. 87. 

Palter, equivocate; III. ix. 
63 - 

Pants, pantings, palpitations; 
IV. viii. 16. 

Paragon, compare; I. v. 71. 
Parcel; “a p. of,” i.e., “of 
a piece with”; III. xi. 32. 
Parcel, specify; V. ii. 162. 
Part, depart; I. ii. 189. 
Particular, private affairs, 

I. iii. 54; personal rela¬ 
tion, IV. ix. 20. 

Partisan, a kind of halberd; 

II. vii. 13. 

Parts, sides; III. iv. 14. 
Past, beyond; I. ii. 154. 
Patch a quarrel, make a 
quarrel of pieces and 
shreds; II. ii. 56- 
Pelleted, formed into small 
balls; III. xi. 165. 
Penetrative, penetrating; 
IV. xii. 75. 

Perforce, of necessity; III. 
iv. 6. 

Period, end; IV. ii. 25. 
Persisted; “most p. deeds,” 


deeds most persisted in; V. 

i. 30. 

Petition; “p. us at home,” 
request us to come home; 

I. ii. 193 - 

Piece, masterpiece, III. ii. 
28; masterpiece (Warbur- 
ton, adopted by Theobald, 
“prise”), V. ii. 99. 
Pinioned, bound; V. ii. 53. 
Pink eyne, half-shut eyes; 

II. vii. 119. 

Placed, fixed, firm; V. ii. 
237 . 

Plant, place; IV. vi. 9. 
Planted, rise; (Warburton 
MS., “planned”) ; I. iii. 
26. 

Plants, the soles of the feet 
(used quibblingly) ; II. vii. 

Plated, clothed in armour; 
I. i. 4. 

Plates, pieces of money, sil¬ 
ver coins; V. ii. 92. 
Pleached, folded; IV. xii. 
73 - 

Points, tagged laces, used 
for tying parts of the 
dress; III. xi. 157. 

Pole, lode-star; IV. xiii. 66. 
Port, gate; IV. iv. 23; car¬ 
riage, bearing; IV. xii. 52. 
Possess, give possession; III. 
ix. 21. 

Possess it, i.e., (?) “be mas¬ 
ter of it”; (Collier MS., 
“Profess it”; Kinnear conj. 
“Pledge it,” etc.); II. vii. 
106. 

Power, armed force, III. vii. 

56; vital organ, III. x. 36. 
Practised, plotted; II. ii. 44. 
Practise on, plot against; II. 

ii. 43- 

Pray ye, I pray you, are you 
in earnest or jesting?; II. 
vi. 118. 

Precedence, what has pre¬ 
ceded; II. v. 51. 


9 



Glossary 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Prescript, direction; . III. 
y iii. 3. 

Precedent, former; IV. xii. 
83 - 

Pregnant, in the highest de¬ 
gree probable; II. i. 45. 
Present, present purpose, 
business; II. vi. 30. 
Present, represent; V. ii. 
216. 

Presently, immediately; II. 
ii. 164. 

Process, mandate; I. i. 28. 
Project, shape, form; (Han- 
mer, “parget”; Warburton, 
“Procter”; Orger conj. 
“perfect”)', V. ii. 120. 
Proof of harness, armour 
of proof, tested and tried 
armour; IV. viii. 15. 
Proper, fine, nice; III. iii. 

39 - , 

Propertied, endowed with 
qualities; V. ii. 83. 
Prorogue, “linger out, keep 
in a languishing state”; 
II. i. 26. 

Prosecution, pursuit; IV. 
xii. 65. 

Ptolemy; “the queen of Pt.,” 
i.e., belonging to the line 
of the Ptolemies, the Mace¬ 
donian dynasty in Egypt; 
I. iv. 6. 

Purchased, acquired; I. iv. 
14 - 

Purge, be cured; I. iii. 53. 
Pyramises, pyramids; II. vii. 
38 . 


Quality, character; I. ii. 
201. 

Queasy, disgusted; III. vi. 
20. 

Quick, lively, sprightly; V. 
ii. 215. 

Quicken, receive life; IV. 
xiii. 40. 

Quit, requite; III. xi. 124. 


Race; “r. of heaven,” “of 
heavenly origin” 

(Schmidt); “smack or 
flavour of heaven” (War- 
burton) ; (Hanmer, “ray ”); 
I. iii. 37 - 

Rack, floating vapour; IV. 
xii. 10. 

Ram, thrust; (Hanmer, 
“Rain”; Delius conj. 
“Cram ”); II. v. 24. 

Ranged, disposed in order; 
I. i. 34 - 

Ranges, ranks; III. xi. 5. 

Rates, is worth; III. ix. 69. 

Raught, reached; IV. ix. 31. 

Reel, stagger as a drunkard; 
I. iv. 20. 

Regiment, sway; III. vi. 95. 

Religion, sacred, holy ob¬ 
ligation; V. ii. 198. 

Remarkable, worthy of note, 
distinguished; IV. xiii. 68 . 

Remove, removal, departure; 
I. ii. 206. 

Render, give up; III. viii. 
39 - 

Rendered, gave up; (F. 1, 
“rendred”; Ff. 2, 3, 4, 

“tendred”) ; IV. xii. 33. 

Reneges, denies; I. i. 8. 

Reports, reporters; II. ii. 51. 

Requires, begs, asks; III. 
x. 12. 

Revolted, who have revolt¬ 
ed; IV. ix. 8. 

Ribaudred, lewd; (Steevens 
conj., adopted by Malone, 
“ Yon'ribald-rid nag”; Tyr- 
whitt conj. Collier (ed. 2), 
“Yon ribald, hag,” etc.); 
III. viii. 18. 

Riggish, wanton; II. ii. 245. 

Right, very, true; IV. x. 41. 

Rivality, co-partnership; III. 
v. 8. 

Rive, split, sever; IV. xi. 
5 - 


10 




ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA Glossary 


Safe, make safe; I. iii. 55. 

Safed, conducted safely; 

(Steevens conj.; Ff., 
^ “saf’t”) ; IV. vi. 26. 

Salt, wanton; II. i. 21. 

Scald, scabby, scurvy; V. ii. 
214. 

Scantly, grudgingly; III. iv. 

6 . 

Scotches, cuts; IV. vii. 10. 

Scrupulous, “prying too 
nicely into the merits of 
either cause”; I. iii. 48. 

Seal, make an end; (Han- 
mer, “sleep"; Johnson 
conj. “seel ”); IV. xii. 49. 

Seel, blind; a term of fal¬ 
conry; III. xi. 112. 

Self, same; V. i. 21. 

Semblable, similar; III. iv. 
3 - 

Sennet, a set of notes play¬ 
ed on the trumpet or cor¬ 
net; II. vii. 17-18. 

Several, separate; I. v. 62. 

Shall, will; II. i. 1. 

Shards, wing-cases of bee¬ 
tles; III. ii. 20. 

Should make, ought to have 
made; V. i. 14. 

Shown, appeared, shown 
yourselves; IV. viii. 7. 

Shown, made a show of, ex¬ 
hibited; IV. x. 49. 

Shows, seems, appears; I. ii. 
172. 

Shrewd, bad; IV. ix. 5. 

Shrowd, shelter, protection; 
(Hanmer, “shrozvd, the 
great,” Collier MS., 

“ shrowd, who is”; Bulloch 
conj. “stewardship”; Gould 
conj. “shield”) ; III. xi. 71. 

Signs; “it s. well,” it is a 
good omen; IV. iii. 13. 

Sirs, used with reference to 
the waiting-women; IV. 
xiii. 86. 

Snare, trap; IV. viii. 18. 

So, if only (according to 


some,=thus), I. iii. 73; 
if, III. xi. 15. 

Sober, modest, demure; V. 
„ “• 54 - 

Soils, blemishes; (Ff., 
“foyles” and “foyls”; Col¬ 
lier conj. “foibles”)', I. iv. 
„ 2 4 - 

Something, somewhat; IV. 

viii. 20; V.. ii. 352. 
Soonest, quickest; III. iv. 
_ 27. 

Soothsay, predict; I. ii. 52. 
Sottish, stupid; IV. xiii. 80. 
Space, space of time, time 
enough; II. i. 31. 
Spanieled, followed like a 
spaniel, a dog; IV. x. 34. 
Speeds, succeeds, prospers; 

II. iii. 36. 

Spot, disgrace; IV. x. 48. 
Sprightly, lively; IV. vii. 
„ IS- 

Square, quarrel, fight; II. i. 
45; III. xi. 41; “kept my 
square,” i.e., kept my rule, 
proper position, “kept 
straight”; II. iii. 6. 

Square, fair, just; II. ii. 190. 
Squares, squadrons; III. ix. 
40. 

Stablishment, settled inher¬ 
itance; III. vi. 9. 

Staged, exhibited publicly; 

III. xi. 30. 

Stay, eclipse; (Theobald, 
“strain”; Warburton MS., 
and Boswell conj., adopted 
by Collier (ed. 2), “stay”; 
Jackson conj. “stun,” 
etc.); III. iv. 27. 

Stall, dwell; V. i. 39. 

Stand on, be particular 
about; IV. iv. 31-32. 

Stands upon; “s. our lives 
u.,” i.e., concerns us, as 
we value our lives; II. i. 

50-51- 

Station, mode of standing; 
III. iii. 20. 


11 




Glossary 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Stays upon, awaits; I. ii. 
123 - 

Steer, direct, control; V. i. 
32. 

Still, continually, always; 
III. ii. 59- 

Stirred, roused, incited; I. 
i- 43 - 

Stomach, inclination; II. ii. 
54 - 

Stomach, resent; III. iv. 12. 
Stomaching, giving way to 
resentment; II. ii. 9. 
Straight, straightway, im¬ 
mediately; II. ii. 173; IV. 
x. 15. 

Strangler, destroyer; (Ff. 2, 
3, 4, ‘‘stranger’’; Rowe, 

“ estranger") ; II. vi. 129. 
’Stroy’d, destroyed; III. ix. 
54 - 

Studied; “well s.,” desire 
earnestly; II. vi. 48. 
Subscribe, sign; IV. v. 14. 
Success, result, issue; III. 

„ v ‘ s * 

Such, very great, very con¬ 
siderable; III. iii. 42. 
Suffer, sustain loss or dam¬ 
age; III. xi. 34. 

Sum; “the s.,” i.e., tell me 
the whole in few words; I. 
i. 18. 

Sworder, gladiator; III. xi. 
3 i- 

Synod, the assembly of the 
gods; III. viii. 13. 


Tabourines, drums; IV. viii. 
3 7 - 

Take in, take, conquer; I. 1. 

23; III. vii. 23. 

Tall, sturdy; II. vi. 7. 
Targes, targets, shields; II. 
vi. 39. 

Teeth; “from his t.,” not 
from his heart: III. iv. 10. 
Telamon, Ajax Telamon; IV. 
xi. 2. 


Temper, freedom from ex¬ 
cess; I. i. 8. 

Temperance, chastity, III. 
xi. 121; moderation, calm¬ 
ness, V. ii. 48. 

Tended; “t. her i’ the eyes,’' 
watched her very look; II. 
ii. 212. 

Terrene, terrestrial, earthly; 
III. xi. 153. 

Thanks, thanks for; (Capell 
conj. “thanks for’’) ; V. ii. 
21. 

Theme; “was th. for you,” 
had you for its theme; II. 
ii. 48. 

Thereabouts, of that opin¬ 
ion; III. viii. 36. 

Thetis; “my Th.,” i.e., “my 
sea-goddess”; III. vii. 59. 

Thick; “so th.,” “in such 
quick succession”; I. v. 

63. 

Thickens, grows dim; II. iii. 
28. 

Think; “th. and die,” i.e., 
“despond and die”; (Han- 
mer, “Drink"; Tyrwhitt 
conj. “Wink"; Becket 
conj. “Swink”) ; III. xi. 1. 

Thought, sorrow; IV. vi. 36. 

Throes, puts in agony; (Ff. 
1, 2, 3, “throwes”; F. 4, 
“throws"; perhaps “throw;, 
forth’’— brings forth); III. 
vii. 79. 

Throw upon, bestow upon; 
I. ii. 197. 

Tight, able, adroit; IV. iv. 

^ 15 - 

Timelier, earlier; II. vi. 52. 

Tinct, tincture; I. v. 37. 

Tires, head-dresses, head- 
gear; II. v. 22. 

Tokened; “the t. pestilence,” 
spotted plague; “the death 
of those visited by the 
plague was certain when 
particular eruptions appear¬ 
ed on the skin; and these 


12 



ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA Glossary. 


were called God’s tokens” 
(Steevens); III. viii. 17. 
Top, height of; V. i. 43. 
To’t, to get to it; III. viii. 
38 . 

Touch, attain; V. ii. 330. 
Touches, sensations, feel¬ 
ings; I. ii. 190. 

Toward, in preparation; II. 
vi. 74. 

Toys, trifles; V. ii. 165. 
Treaties, proposals for a 
treaty; III. ix. 62. 

Triple, third; I. i. 12. 
Triple-turned, three times 
faithless; (Jackson conj. 
“ triple-train’d”) ; IV. x. 26. 
Trull, worthless woman; 

III. vi. 95. 

Turpitude, extreme base¬ 
ness; IV. vi. 33. 

Undoing, destruction; V. it. 
44 - 

Unequal, unjust; II. v. 101. 
Unfolded, exposed; V. ii. 
169. 

Unnoble, ignoble; III. ix. 
50. 

Unpolicied, devoid of policy; 
V. ii. 308. 

Unpurposed, not intended; 

IV. xii. 84. 

Unqualitied, deprived of his 
character and faculties; 
III. ix. 44. 

Unseminar’d, destitute of 
seed; I. v. 11. 

Unstate, divest of estate 
and dignity; III. xi. 30. 
Unto, over; II. ii. 149. 

Upon the river, upon the 
shores of the river; II. ii. 
192. 

Urge; “did u. me in his act,” 
“made use of my name as 
a pretence for the war” 
(Warburton); II. ii. 50. 
Urgent, pressing; I. ii. 190. 


Use; “in u.,” in usufruct; I. 
iii. 44. 

Use, are used, are accus¬ 
tomed; II. v. 32. 

Useful, usefully; IV. xii. 80. 


Vacancy, empty and idle 
time; I. iv. 26. 

Vantage, advantage; III. 
viii. 20. 

Varletry, rabble; (F. 1, 

“ Varlotarie”; Ff. 2, 3, 4, 
“Varlotry”) ; V. ii. 56. 

Vessels; “strike the v.,” i.e., 
“tap the casks”; (? “strike 
your cups together”); II. 
vii. 102. 

Vials; “sacred v.,” “allud¬ 
ing to the lachrymatory 
vials, or bottles of tears, 
which the Romans some¬ 
times put into the urn of 
a friend”; I. iii. 63. 

Vie, contend with, rival; “v. 
strange forms with fancy,” 
i.e., contend with, rival, 
fancy in producing strange 
forms”; V. ii. 98. 

View; “to my sister’s v.,” 
to see my sister; II. ii. 
172. 

Virtue, valour; IV. viii. 17. 


Waged, were opposed to each 
other; (F. 2, “way”; Ff. 
3, 4, “may”; Rowe, 

“weigh’d’’; Ritson conj. 
“Weigh”); V. i. 31. 
Wailed, bewailed; III. ii. 57. 
Waned, faded; (Ff., “wand”; 
Johnson conj. “fond”); II. 
i. 21. 

Wassails, carousing; (Pope’s 
emendation of Ff. 1, 2, 3, 
“Vassailes’’ and “ Vas¬ 

sails” ; F. 4, “Vassals”); 
I. iv. 56. 

Way’s, way he is; (so F. 4; 





Glossary 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Ff. i, 2, 3, " wayes Han- 
mer, “way he’s”); II. v. 
ii 7 - 

Weet, wit, know; I. i. 39. 
Well said, well done; IV. 

iv. 28. , 

Wharfs, banks; II. ii. 218. 
What, why; (Collier MS., 
'‘Why”)-, V. ii. 313. 
Which, who; I. ii. 4. 
Whole, well again; IV. viii. 
11. 

Windowed, placed in a win¬ 
dow; IV. xii. 72. 

With, by; I. i. 56; III. viii. 
15; V. ii. 170. 

With’s, with us; III. i. 36. 


Woo’t, wouldst; (Capell, 
“Won’t”)-, IV. ii. 7. 
Words, flatters with words, 
cajoles; V. ii. 190. 
Worky-day, ordinary; I. ii. 

5 6 - 

Worm, snake; V. ii. 242. 
Wott’st, knowest; I. v. 22. 
Wrong led, misled; (Capell, 
“wrong’d’)-, III. vi. 80. 

Yare, light, active, III. vii. 

37; ready, III. xi. 131. 
Yare, be quick; V. ii. 283. 
Yarely, readily; II. ii. 216. 
Yield, reward, requite; IV. 
33 - 


\ 


-4 



Notes. 


I. i. 18. ‘Grates me:—the sum’; F. i, ‘Grates me, 
the summe’; Ff. 2, 3, ‘Rate me, the summe’; Rowe, 
‘Rate me the sum’; Pope, ‘It grates me. Tell the 
sum’; Capell, ‘’T grates me: — The sum’; Steevens 
( I 793 )» ‘’Grates me:—The sum.’ 

I. i. 60-61. ‘liar, who Thus speaks of him’; Pope 
reads ‘liar Fame, Who speaks him thus.’ 

I. ii. 5. ‘charge’; Warburton and Southern MS. 
conj., adopted by Theobald; Ff., ‘change’; Jackson 
conj. ‘chain’; Williams conj. ‘’hang.’ 

I. ii. 40. ‘fertile’; Warburton conj., adopted by 
Theobald; Ff., ‘foretell,’ and ‘foretel’; Pope, ‘fore¬ 
told’; Collier MS., ‘fruitful.’ 

I. ii. 66. ‘Alexas, — come’; Theobald’s reading of the 
Folio text, where Alexas is erroneously printed as 
though the name of the speaker. 

I. ii. 85. ‘Saw you my lord?’; so Ff. 2, 3, 4; F. 1 
reads ‘Saue you, my lord.’ 

I. ii. 118. ‘minds’; Warburton conj., adopted by 
Hanmer; Ff. 1, 2, ‘windes’; Collier conj. ‘wints.’ 

I. ii. 136. ‘enchanting’; so F. 1; omitted in Ff. 2, 
3, 4; Rowe reads ‘^Egyptian.’ 

I. ii. 145. ‘a compelling occasion’; Rowe’s emenda¬ 
tion of Ff., ‘a compelling an occasion’; Nicholson 
conj. ‘so compelling an occasion’; &c. 

I. ii. 203-204. ‘like the courser’s hair,’ &c., allud¬ 
ing to the popular notion that horsehair put into 
water will turn into a snake or worm. 

I. iv. 3. ‘Our’; Heath and Johnson conj., adopted 
by Singer; Ff., ‘One’; Hanmer, ‘A.’ 

I. iv. 22. ‘As’; Johnson conj. ‘and.’ 

I. iv. 46. ‘lackeying’; ‘lacquying,’ Theobald’s correc- 


Antony and Cleopatra. 


*5 





Notes. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


tion, from Anon MS.; Ff., ‘lacking’; Pope, ‘lashing’j 
Southern MS., ‘backing’ 

I. v. 48. ‘an arrogant’; Boaden conj.; Ff., ‘an Arme- 
gaunt’; Hanmer, ‘an arm-girt’; Mason conj., adopted 
by Steevens, 1793, ‘a termagant’; Jackson conj. ‘a 
war-gaunt’; Lettsom conj. ‘a rampaunt’; the latter 
ingenious emendation certainly commends itself; un¬ 
less ‘arm-gaunt’—having lean fore-limbs/ 

I. v. 50. ‘beastly’; Hanmer, ‘beast-like’; Collier MS., 
‘boastfully’; Becket conj. ‘basely’ 

II. i. 10. ‘powers are crescent ’; Theobald reads 
‘power’s a crescent’; Becket conj. ‘power is crescent’; 
Anon. conj. ‘Power’s a-crescent.’ 

II. ii. 48. ‘Was theme for you,’ i.e., ‘had you for its 
theme’; Johnson conj. ‘Had theme from you’; Col¬ 
lier (ed. 2), ‘For theme was you’; Staunton conj. 
‘Had you for theme’; Orson conj. ‘Was known for 
yours,’ &c. 

II. ii. 115. ‘your considerate stone,’ i.e., ‘I am silent 
as a stone’; Heath conj. ‘your confederates love’; 
Johnson, ‘your considerate ones’; Blackstone conj. 
‘your consideratest one,’ &c., &c. 

II. ii. 213. ‘And made their bends adornings’; i.e., 
“and made their very act of obeisance an improve¬ 
ment on their beauty” (Steevens) ; the passage has 
been variously interpreted, but this seems the sim¬ 
plest solution. 

II. iii. 3. ‘my prayers’; Rowe reads ‘in prayers’; 
Collier MS., ‘with prayers.’ 

II. iii. 23. ‘a fear’; Collier (ed. 2), Thirlby conj., 
‘afeard’; S. Walker conj. ‘afear.’ 

II. iii. 31. ‘he away, ’tis’; Pope’s emendation of F. 
1, ‘he alway ’tis’; Ff. 2, 3, 4, ‘he always is.’ 

II. iii. 39. ‘inhoopcd,’ i.e., enclosed in a hoop; Han¬ 
mer, ‘in-coop’d’; Seward conj., adopted by Capell, 
‘in whoop’d-at 

16 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Notes. 


II. V. 12. ‘Tawny-finned’; Theobald’s emendation 
of Ff., ' Tawny-fine’; Rowe reads ‘ Tawny-fin.’ 

II. v. 103. ‘That are not what thou’rt sure of!’; 
Hanmer, ‘That say’st but what thou’rt sure of’; 
Johnson conj. ‘That art—not what? — Thou’rt sure 
on’t,’ &c.; perhaps the words of the text mean ‘that 
art not the evil thing of which thou art so certain’; 
other interpretations have been advanced. 

II. v. 116. ‘Though he be painted one way like a 
Gorgon,’ alluding to the old ‘perspective’ pictures 
showing one picture from one point of view, another 
from another standpoint. 

II. vii. 77. ‘then’; Pope; Steevens conj. ‘theirs’ 

II. vii. 99. ‘increase the reels’; Steevens conj. ‘and 
grease the wheels’; Douce conj. ‘increase the revels? 

II. vii. 116. ‘bear’; Theobald’s emendation; Ff., 
‘beat.’ 

III. v. 13. ‘Then, world, thou hast’; Hanmer’s 
emendation; Ff.; ‘Then would thou hadst’; Warbur- 
ton MS., ‘Then would thou hast’: ‘chaps, no,’ Theo¬ 
bald’s reading of Ff., ‘chaps no.’ 

III. vi. 53. ‘left unloved’; Collier Ms., ‘held un¬ 
loved’; Singer conj., adopted by Hudson, ‘felt un¬ 
loved’; Seymour conj. ‘left unvalued’; Staunton conj. 
‘left unpriz’d.’ 

III. vii. 5. ‘If not denounced against us’; Hanmer 
reads, ‘Is’t not denounc’d ’gainst us?’; Jackson conj. 
‘Is’t not? Denounce against us!’; &c. 

III. vii. 67-68. ‘his whole action grows Not in the 
power on’t,’ i.e., “his whole conduct in the war is not 
founded upon that which is his greatest strength, 
namely, his land force, but on the caprice of a 
woman,” &c. (Malone). 

III. x. 28-29. ‘And in our name, what she requires; 
add more, From thine invention, offers’; Grant White 
conj. ‘What she requires; and in our name add more 

17 




"Notes. 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Offers from thine invention ’; Walker, ‘and more... 
From thine invention offer.’ 

III. xi. 162. ‘Caesarion smite’ ; Hanmer’s emenda¬ 
tion; Ff., ‘Caesarian smile.’ 

IV. iv. 3. ‘mine’ ; Ff., ‘thine.’ 

IV. iv. 5-8. The text follows Malone’s arrange¬ 
ment and reading ( vide Cambridge Edition, Note 
VI.). 

IV. v. 17. ‘Despatch. Enobarbus !’; Steevens (1773) 
reading; F. 1, ‘Dispatch Enobarbus’ ; F. 2, ‘Dispatch 
Eros’ ; Ff. 3, 4, ‘Dispatch, Eros’ ; Pope, ‘ dispatch my 
Eros’; Johnson conj. ‘Dispatch! To Enobarbus!’ ; 
Capell, ‘Dispatch .— O Enobarbus !’; Rann, ‘Eros! Dis¬ 
patch’ ; Ritson conj., adopted by Steevens 1793, ‘Eros, 
despatch’ ; Anon. conj. ‘Domitius Enorbarbus !’ 

IV. vi. 13. ‘persuade’ ; Rowe’s correction of Ff., 
‘disswadc.’ 

IV. viii. 23. ‘favouring’ ; Theobald’s emendation of 
Ff., ‘savouring.’ 

IV. x. 38. ‘soul’ ; Capell, ‘soil’; Singer (ed. 2) 
from Collier MS., ‘spell’; S. Walker conj. ‘snake’: 
‘grave’ ; Pope reads ‘gay’ ; Collier (ed. 2) from Col¬ 
lier MS., ‘great’; Singer (ed. 2), ‘grand.’ 

IV. xii. 87. ‘Lo thee’; Grant White conj. ‘Lo 
there.’ 

IV. xiii. 11. ‘Burn the great sphere ’; Hanmer, 
‘Turn from the sphere’ ; Warburton, ‘Turn from th’ 
great sphere.’ 

IV. xiii. 12. ‘shore’; Staunton conj. adopted by 
Hudson, ‘star.’ 

IV. xiii. 22. ‘I dare not’ ; Malone conj. ‘I dare not 
descend’ ; Ritson conj., adopted by Wordsworth, ‘I 
dare not come down’; Anon, conj., from Plutarch, T 
dare not ope the gates’; &c. 

IV. xiii. 74. ‘No mote, but e’en a woman’; Capell’s 
version; Ff. read ‘No more but in a woman’ ; Rowe, 
‘No more but a meer woman’ ; Johnson conj., adopted 

18 


ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 


Notes o 


by Steevens, 1773, 1778, ‘No more—but e’en a 
woman.’ 

V. i. 15. ‘crack: the round world’; Steevens conj. 
‘crack than this: the ruin’d world’; Singer conj. 
‘crack: the round world convulsive’; Nicholson conj. 
‘crack: the round world in rending’; Daniel conj. 
‘crack in the round world’; &c., &c. 

V. i. 24. ‘Splitted the heart’; Collier MS., ‘Split 
that self noble heart’; Elze conj. ‘Splitted that very 
heart.’ 

V. i. 59-60. ‘learn To be ungentle’; Tyrwhitt conj.; 
Rowe (ed. 2) and Southern MS., ‘live To be ungen¬ 
tle’; Ff. read ‘leaue to be ungentle’; Capell, ‘Leave 
to be gentle’; Gould conj. ‘bear to be ungentle.’ 

V. ii. 7. ‘dung’; so the Ff.; Warburton conj., 
adopted by Theobald, ‘dugg’; Nicholson conj. 
‘tongue’; Cartwright conj. ‘wrong’; Bailey conj. 
‘doom.’ 

V. ii. 50. ‘necessary’; Hanmer. ‘accessary’; Malone 
conj. ‘necessary, I’ll not so much as syllable a word’; 
Ritson conj. ‘necessary, I zvill not speak; if sleep be 
necessary.’ 

V. ii. 87. ‘an autumn ’twas’; Theobald and Thirlby 
conj.; Ff. read ‘an Anthony it was’; &c. 

V. ii. 104. ‘smites’; Capell’s emendation; Ff. 1, 2, 
‘suites’; Ff. 3, 4, ‘suits’; Pope, ‘shoots.’ 

V. ii. 173. ‘my chance,’ i.e., my changed fortune, 
lot; Hanmer reads ‘mischance’; S. Walker conj. ‘my 
change’; Ingleby conj., adopted by Hudson, ‘my 
glance.’ 

V. ii. 177-178. ‘We answer others’ merits in our 
name, Are’; Malone’s reading; Ff., ‘We answer 
others merits, Pn our name Are’; &c. 

V. ii. 352. ‘caves’; so Ff. 2, 3, 4; F. 1, ‘caues’; 
Barry conj. ‘canes’; Anon conj. ‘eaves’; Perring 
conj. ‘course.’ 


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